Coin of Perge under Gallienus 253 - 268

Curator: This is a coin of Perge under Gallienus, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: What strikes me immediately is its weathered surface, a testament to its age and history. Curator: Indeed. The material degradation offers a window into the coin's journey through time, hinting at the conditions it has endured and how socio-political forces shape its reception as an artifact. Editor: From a purely formal perspective, the worn textures create an intriguing interplay of light and shadow, obscuring the original design yet revealing something new in its fragmented composition. The circular form contains the portrait and the reverse which seem to offer a formal balance. Curator: It speaks volumes about Perge's local economy and its connection to the broader Roman Empire under Gallienus. Coins acted as propaganda, circulating imperial power and influence. Editor: Fascinating how its physicality bears witness to both artistic intention and the ravages of time. Curator: Quite so, it is like a tangible record of shifting societal tides.