Siglos of Croesus of Lydia, Sardis c. 6th century

Editor: Here we have a Siglos of Croesus of Lydia from Sardis, created by Croesus. It's a small coin, about 5.31 grams, and its simple form is quite striking. What do you make of it? Curator: The coin's form is certainly interesting. Notice the intentionality in the circular planchet and the relief designs. Do you observe how the die engraver used a limited vocabulary of lines and planes to represent a lion and bull? Editor: Yes, it's like they're contained within the coin's shape. So, it's less about detailed depiction, and more about the relationships of the forms themselves? Curator: Precisely. The coin's value resides not just in its metallic content, but in the relationship between the form and the imposed designs. Editor: That's fascinating. I'll certainly look at coins differently now. Curator: Indeed. By focusing on the formal components, we gain a deeper understanding of its aesthetic and functional value.