Anonymous Follis c. 976 - 1035

Editor: So, here's an interesting object, an Anonymous Follis, its date unknown. It's made of bronze and currently resides at the Harvard Art Museums. There's a figure on one side and text on the other. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This coin, though small, speaks volumes about power and representation in Byzantine society. The anonymous nature points to a centralized authority, diffusing individual power while reinforcing a collective identity under an implied ruler. Consider the implications of such a system on individual agency within the empire? Editor: That's fascinating! So, the lack of a specific ruler's name reinforces the power of the state itself? Curator: Precisely. How does the imagery then bolster or subvert these power dynamics, particularly when disseminated amongst a diverse populace with varying levels of literacy and social standing? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. It really puts a different perspective on something as simple as a coin.