Follis of Anastasios I, Constantinople c. 498 - 518

Curator: This is a follis, a type of Byzantine coin, of Anastasios I, who ruled from 491 to 518 AD. Editor: The patina is gorgeous, that green-blue haze speaks of incredible age. The composition is quite simple, almost rudimentary, yet there's a certain balance to the iconography. Curator: Indeed, these coins were crucial in standardizing the Byzantine monetary system. Anastasios reformed the coinage, which helped stabilize the economy and centralize imperial power. Editor: Look at the way the central "M" dominates the reverse, flanked by those small stars. It’s as if the artist, or rather, the die engraver, aimed to create a clear, legible symbol of value and authority. Curator: Exactly! The imagery also reinforced imperial ideology. The portrait of Anastasios legitimized his rule, demonstrating how even everyday objects were used to project power. Editor: I'm drawn to the texture. The rough surface catches the light in such a way that it accentuates the bas-relief, giving the coin a tangible, almost tactile quality. It's humble, yet powerful. Curator: It is a remarkable artifact of economic and political life in the early Byzantine Empire. Editor: It is a small object, but its visual form really does tell a story about a distant world.