Coin of Aelius Caesar 

Editor: Here we have a coin of Aelius Caesar. The weathered bronze gives it a tactile, almost ethereal quality. How do you interpret the formal elements at play here? Curator: Note how the bas-relief portrait, despite its degradation, retains a distinct profile, its line subtly echoed by the coin’s circumference. Consider, too, the interplay of patinas, the green contrasting with the reddish bronze, creating a visual tension. Editor: The textures and their contrast is fascinating! It almost invites touch. Curator: Indeed. The coin, in its materiality, transcends its utilitarian function. It becomes a study in form and decay.