Anonymous Follis c. 1030 - 1042

Editor: This is an interesting piece! It's an Anonymous Follis from the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes me is its tangible, almost worn quality. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, considering its function as currency, wear and tear is inevitable. The materiality of the coin – its copper content and weight – directly reflects its value and purchasing power within its contemporary social and economic system. It's all about the metal, the making, and the market. Editor: That’s fascinating! How does being "anonymous" affect its value? Curator: Anonymity speaks volumes about the economic structures. This coin was likely produced on a mass scale, with the labor and source of materials becoming divorced from a named individual. Perhaps that made it more widely accepted? Editor: I never considered the link between mass production and anonymity! Thanks! Curator: The pleasure is mine.