Coin of Phokas c. 602 - 603

Editor: This is a coin of Phokas, residing at the Harvard Art Museums and weighing nearly 13 grams. The worn texture gives it a solemn feel. What strikes you about it? Curator: Note the die-cut imagery. The linear quality of the figures on one side, juxtaposed with the more abstract symbols on the other. This contrast invites a semiotic reading. What relations do you observe? Editor: The figures seem more representational, while the symbols look almost architectural, perhaps denoting power or stability. Curator: Precisely. Consider how the artist uses line and form to create these distinct impressions. A visual language is certainly at play. Editor: I see what you mean. Thanks for expanding my understanding of visual elements!