Coin of Cleopatra Thea and Antiochos VIII of Syria, Ptolemais c. 123

Editor: This is a coin of Cleopatra Thea and Antiochos VIII of Syria, Ptolemais. The material looks like metal. What stands out is how worn the coin is; how does that affect our reading of the piece? Curator: The wear, or patination, is significant. The obscuring of the fine details forces us to focus on the essential forms: the raised profiles, the circular shape itself. Consider the weight, the substance of the coin. What might that solidity have represented? Editor: Maybe stability? So, you’re saying the damage to the coin sort of highlights its basic elements and makes us think about what those mean? Curator: Precisely. The medium is intrinsic to the message. The coin's endurance asks us to consider what it communicated, and what value has survived. Editor: That makes me think about the power of symbols and materials to communicate, even when degraded. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. A potent reminder of art’s ability to transcend time through form.