Dinar of Yahya I c. 13th century

Editor: Here we see a gold Dinar of Yahya I. The weight is listed as 2.38 grams. I find the square inscription in the center really striking. How do you interpret the layout and design? Curator: The Dinar presents a fascinating study in formal organization. Note how the square cartouche containing the inscriptions creates a dialogue with the circular form of the coin itself. It prompts us to consider the relationship between symmetry and asymmetry, and the tension between the geometric and the organic. Editor: So it’s the contrast between those shapes that really defines it, then. I hadn't considered the interplay between the square and the circle. Curator: Precisely. The script itself, carefully rendered, becomes a visual element, almost divorced from its semantic content, inviting us to consider its formal properties as line, texture, and shape. I am pleased this discussion has aided in your observations. Editor: I appreciate your perspective; I will definitely carry this with me as I continue my studies.