Coin of Hiketas, Tyrant of Syracuse c. 287

Editor: This is a coin of Hiketas, tyrant of Syracuse. It's undated, but resides in the Harvard Art Museums collection. What strikes me is the texture and color; it has this beautiful verdigris. What do you see? Curator: The formal elements command attention. Consider the incuse relief and its interplay with the circular planchet. Note the patina, which isn't mere decay, but a chromatic layer, transforming the surface into a landscape of blues and greens. Editor: So the coin's value comes from the way it's aged, as much as its original design? Curator: Precisely. The erosion itself becomes part of the aesthetic experience, questioning traditional notions of artistic intent. Editor: Fascinating, I'll look at ancient artifacts very differently from now on. Curator: Indeed. The material speaks volumes.