Coin of Nicopolis ad Istrum under Caracalla c. 3th century

Editor: This is a coin of Nicopolis ad Istrum under Caracalla from the Harvard Art Museums. The worn surface and the hole drilled in it make me wonder about its past life. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The coin's formal elements are intriguing. Note the figure in contrapposto on one side, balanced by the profile portrait on the other. Observe the texture; the rough surface contrasts with the intended smoothness. Consider the circular form itself. Editor: So, the form and the surface tell as much of a story as the images themselves? Curator: Precisely. The materiality and composition are integral to its aesthetic impact, hinting at the passage of time and the cultural values embedded within its creation and subsequent use. Editor: I never thought of a coin having such depth of visual language. Curator: Indeed.