Follis of Diocletian, Cyzicus c. 295 - 296

Editor: This is a Follis of Diocletian, from Cyzicus. Given its age, the texture and patina are intriguing. I’m curious about how the images and text play off each other. What do you see in its formal elements? Curator: The composition is markedly binary. The obverse presents a profile portrait, authoritative and contained within a tight circular frame of text. The reverse depicts Victory, fluid and dynamic, yet similarly constrained by text and the coin's edge. Editor: So, these framing devices control how we perceive the images? Curator: Precisely. The coin’s circularity, the incised lines, and the lettering all act as formal constraints, enhancing the power and symbolic weight of the imagery. Do you notice how the weathering even contributes? Editor: I do, the verdigris almost unifies the forms. It's fascinating how such a small object can be so rich in formal interplay. Curator: Indeed, the scale belies its complexity.