Anonymous Follis c. 1075 - 1080

Curator: This piece before us, an Anonymous Follis from the Harvard Art Museums collection, presents a worn, almost ghostly presence. The details are faded, yet it feels heavy with stories, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Heavily patinated, certainly. This copper alloy disc speaks volumes about material degradation and its interaction with soil chemistry over time. Curator: It’s like holding time itself in your hand. The image of who I believe to be Christ stares back at you, the cross on the reverse a simple yet profound statement of faith. I feel a strange empathy for whoever clutched this coin, so long ago. Editor: And consider the labor involved. Extracting the ore, smelting, striking the die—each coin represents a physical investment in the Byzantine economy, a tiny monument to collective effort. Curator: It's a beautiful, tangible connection. One can't help but wonder about the journey this coin undertook, who it touched. Editor: Indeed. A humble object, yet dense with information. I see the potential for fascinating investigations into Byzantine trade routes and workshop practices.