Antoninianus of Cornelia Salonina 260 - 268

Editor: Here we have an Antoninianus coin of Cornelia Salonina. It is amazing how much texture and color has been added due to the wearing of time. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The verdigris, a patina of oxidation, dominates the field, obscuring the original form. However, observe the remaining relief. What can be gleaned from the visible lines and shapes? Editor: I see the profile of a face on one side. Curator: Precisely. The incised lines, though degraded, still convey the imperial portrait. Consider the symbolic weight carried by such a commonplace object. Does its eroded state alter or amplify that meaning? Editor: I never thought about how weathering could change a message. Curator: Indeed. Even in decay, the formal elements speak to the passage of time and the enduring nature of representation.