Coin Depicting a Vase 67 - 68

This small coin, made by an anonymous Judean artist, features a vase and is now housed at the Art Institute of Chicago. The coin's circular form immediately suggests wholeness, but this is disrupted by a significant crack, hinting at a deeper instability or fragmentation. The image of the vase, centrally located, is surrounded by inscriptions, yet the vase itself is not merely a decorative object. It embodies ideas of containment and ritual. The material of the coin – likely bronze or a similar alloy – speaks to durability and the intention to preserve value. Its small size invites a close, almost intimate examination, demanding attention to detail. The rough texture and worn surface are not flaws, but rather reveal the coin's history of use and exchange. These elements converge to destabilize the coin's apparent simplicity, transforming it into a potent symbol of culture, value, and the complexities of history. This is a form that holds more than monetary worth; it encapsulates cultural memory.