Coin of Resaina under Caracalla c. 3th century

Editor: This is a coin from Resaina under Caracalla, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. The patina is so thick; it makes me wonder about the wear and tear that this coin has endured. What do you see in its composition and form? Curator: The coin's circular format, of course, dictates the composition. Note the use of relief to create depth within the limited space, a sophisticated manipulation of form. The wear, as you mentioned, erodes the legibility, yet the texture it creates adds another layer. What of the arrangement of images or symbols do you note? Editor: It seems very deliberate, even if time has blurred the details. Perhaps the arrangement was meant to convey a particular message? Curator: Precisely. Semiotics would suggest each element--the figure, the inscription, the dot matrix--functions as a signifier within a complex system of meaning. The degradation is not merely damage; it's an entropic force acting upon that system, changing how we interpret it today. An interesting point, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely, seeing it that way really changes my perspective.