Follis of Justinian I, Nicomedia 538 - 539

Editor: Here we have a Follis of Justinian I, from Nicomedia. The bronze is worn but the image is clear, so what do you see in this work? Curator: The composition is rigorously structured. Observe the bilateral symmetry on both sides. The iconographic elements – cross, figure, lettering - establish a controlled visual language. How does the surface texture strike you? Editor: It seems worn, almost smooth in places. Does that impact the meaning? Curator: It alters the visual reception, certainly. The effacement speaks to time, a subtle erosion of the imperial image, introducing a layer of semiotic complexity. Do you agree? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, but it makes sense. Curator: Indeed. The coin’s intrinsic value is in its meticulously designed form, regardless of its degradation, don't you think? Editor: I now see how the physical degradation ironically enriches the experience.