Coin of Cyrene under Aulus Pupius Rufus, Propraetor 34 BCE-31 BCE (?)

Editor: This is a bronze coin from Cyrene, issued under Aulus Pupius Rufus. It has an intriguing weathered texture, almost like a miniature landscape. What strikes you most about its visual qualities? Curator: The coin’s patinated surface reveals a complex interplay of textures and colors. Note how the incised lines of the imagery, although worn, still delineate form and structure, demonstrating a clear articulation of symbolic elements. Editor: Symbolic elements? Curator: Indeed. Observe the ram's head, a common motif, its curved horn providing a focal point. And on the reverse, the silphium plant; its stylized rendering is crucial. Can you perceive the deliberate arrangement of these forms within the circular field? Editor: I see how the composition guides the eye around the coin. It's fascinating how much can be conveyed within such a small space. Curator: Precisely. The manipulation of form and space are key in understanding its symbolic language. Editor: Thanks. I see so much more now.