Coin (AE4) of Constantine I, Constantinople 347 - 348

Editor: This is a coin, or AE4, of Constantine I from Constantinople. The details are worn with age, but I'm curious about its formal qualities. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Note how the patinated bronze creates a textured surface, fragmenting the implied circular form. The incised portrait, though corroded, still presents a structured profile. What visual weight do you ascribe to that decay? Editor: I hadn't thought of it as having weight. Maybe the decay adds to the formal qualities of the piece. Curator: Precisely! It disrupts the classical ideal, introducing an element of chance. Consider the interplay between the intended design and the accidental effects of time. Editor: That's an interesting perspective, to consider decay as part of the design. Curator: Indeed. Form isn't static, but a dynamic process.