Antoninianus of Claudius II Gothicus 

Editor: Here we have an Antoninianus of Claudius II Gothicus, located here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small coin, and the surface texture seems quite rough. What strikes you about its formal qualities? Curator: The coin's circular form, though fragmented, establishes a clear boundary. The relief work, however worn, exhibits a structured approach to depicting the emperor's profile and the reverse imagery. Observe the deliberate use of line to define the facial features and the symbolic motifs. Editor: What do you make of the damage to the edges of the coin? Curator: The fragmentation introduces an element of chance, disrupting the intended symmetry. However, even in its incomplete state, the coin maintains a coherent visual language through the relationship between its remaining forms and the implied whole. It retains its structural integrity. Editor: That's a great point. Thanks for that analysis. Curator: Indeed. Considering the interplay between form and fragmentation enhances our understanding.