Pentanummium of Anastasios I, Constantinople 498 - 518

Editor: Here we have a Pentanummium of Anastasios I from Constantinople. It seems small, but intricate. What do you see in this piece, beyond just its historical value? Curator: The very form speaks. Notice the circular composition, how it’s bisected into two distinct faces, each stamped with symbols. The patina, a testament to age, alters the original color, creating texture. Editor: So, the materiality and the design are key? Curator: Precisely. Consider how the bas-relief interacts with light, defining the emperor's profile versus the reverse's inscription. It’s a study in contrasts. Editor: That's a fresh perspective. It's not just an old coin; it's a deliberate arrangement of form. Curator: Indeed. Analyzing its structure reveals the values of the era.