Anonymous Follis c. 1030 - 1042

Curator: This is an Anonymous Follis from the Harvard Art Museums. Weighing in at just under 13 grams, its small size belies its historical significance. Editor: It strikes me as quite worn, its details softened by the passage of time. There's a certain solemnity in its aged appearance. Curator: Indeed. This coin offers a window into Byzantine society, reflecting its economic systems and religious beliefs. Editor: The iconography is fascinating. On one side, we see a representation of Christ, while the other is inscribed with text. The cross is interesting. Curator: These images were powerful symbols of authority and faith, disseminated widely through commerce. The choice of materials, too, speaks to the empire's resources and trade networks. Editor: It's remarkable how such a tiny object could carry so much cultural weight. The way that power has been materialized here, it's quite something. Curator: Precisely. It reminds us of the tangible connections between art, economics, and belief. Editor: It makes you wonder about the hands it passed through, the stories it could tell.