Coin of Berytos under Elagabalus c. 218 - 222

Editor: Here we have a coin of Berytos under Elagabalus from the Harvard Art Museums. The details are incredible, even on such a small, aged object. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: The incuse relief presents a fascinating study in form. Note how the artist manipulates positive and negative space to articulate the imperial portrait and architectural details. The very act of impressing such designs onto metal imparts a unique aesthetic. Editor: So the process itself is key to understanding it? Curator: Precisely. The physicality of striking the coin, the resulting textures, all contribute to its visual language. Consider also how the coin's circular form dictates and contains the composition. What have we learned? Editor: I see the skill involved now, and the artistic decisions behind what seems like a simple object.