Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Salonina c. 268 - 269

Editor: This is the Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Salonina, from the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes me is the worn texture of the metal itself, a testament to time. How do you interpret this work purely through its visual components? Curator: Its circular form, immediately suggestive of unity and cyclical time, is disrupted by the material degradation. The patination introduces a chromatic complexity—verdigris against the original metallic hue. How does this contrast affect your understanding? Editor: It makes me think about decay and the passage of power. That's really interesting. Thanks for your help! Curator: Indeed. Focusing on these formal qualities allows us to consider temporality and transformation inherent in the artifact.