Anonymous Follis c. 1030 - 1042

Editor: This is an Anonymous Follis from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a humble coin, heavily worn, yet its materiality speaks of history. What compositional elements stand out to you? Curator: The coin presents a fascinating interplay of form and content. Observe the circular planchet, its circumference disrupted by wear. The central image—a stylized figure on one side, a grid-like structure on the other—creates a compelling tension between figuration and abstraction. Editor: The "grid-like structure" is interesting. What’s your interpretation? Curator: Consider it not just a grid, but a field of repeated units. The arrangement speaks to order and possibly, underlying structure. The varying depths of the incised lines suggest an emphasis on light and shadow, creating a textural surface. Editor: I see what you mean. It's all about the relationships between these formal elements, creating meaning through the coin's structure. Curator: Precisely. The coin invites us to decode its message not through explicit symbolism, but through the inherent qualities of its design.