Anonymous Follis c. 1042 - 1050

Curator: Here we have an anonymous follis, a Byzantine coin, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It's small, unassuming, but carries a weight of history, doesn’t it? Editor: Oh, absolutely, it’s like holding a tiny, weathered sun. The oxidation gives it a warm, reddish-brown hue, and you can just barely make out the figures—it’s like peering into a forgotten dream. Curator: The imagery, even worn, is fascinating. One side features a stylized depiction of Christ, while the other displays a cross, symbols deeply embedded in the socio-political fabric of the Byzantine Empire. These coins weren’t just currency, they were miniature billboards of power and faith. Editor: Exactly, imagine the hands it passed through, the stories it could tell! It feels almost sacrilegious to reduce it to mere commerce—it's a sacred object disguised as money, a little portal to another time. It is truly amazing. Curator: Indeed, this follis connects us to a world vastly different, yet strangely familiar, reminding us of the enduring power of symbols. Editor: A humbling little artifact. It's strange to think that something so small can contain so much.