Coin of Philetairos of Pergamon c. 3th century

Editor: This is a coin of Philetairos of Pergamon. Its materiality makes me wonder what it must have felt like to hold something like this. What do you see in it? Curator: Note the composition. Two circular forms, obverse and reverse, each bearing symbolic impressions. The textures arise from corrosion, yet the geometry persists. Observe the interplay between the incuse relief and the coin's edge. Editor: So it's the shapes that matter? Curator: Precisely. The coin's value lies not only in its potential use, but in the relationship between the forms, the texture, and the very essence of its being. Editor: I learned a lot about looking at art here. Curator: Indeed. There is always more to learn by looking closely.