Follis of Constans II, Constantinople 641 - 646

Editor: Here we have the Follis of Constans II from Constantinople. Examining its form, the coin exhibits a distinct lack of perfect symmetry. What formal qualities strike you most profoundly in this piece? Curator: The most immediate observation is the debasement of form, a departure from classical ideals of perfect figuration. The surfaces are heavily worked, obscuring the intended iconography. Note the interplay of light and shadow across the relief; how does it inform our reading of the depicted forms? Editor: It feels like the wear and tear add another layer to the piece; this obscures the original, but changes our interpretation. Curator: Precisely. The materiality of the coin itself, transformed by time and handling, becomes integral to its aesthetic presence. The lines, the composition, and the balance between the relief and the flat plane; these are all affected, aren't they? Editor: Absolutely, it's been fascinating to consider how time can become part of a work's form. Curator: Indeed. The very erosion invites us to consider not just what it was, but what it *is*.