Follis of Anastasios I c. 498 - 518

Curator: Here we have a Follis of Anastasios I, a Byzantine bronze coin, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The coin’s aged patina immediately strikes me. It speaks volumes about its journey through time and the hands it has passed through. Curator: Indeed. Its materiality tells a story of imperial administration. Each coin was a direct product of labor, from mining the raw materials to striking the image of the emperor. Editor: And that image! Placed in circulation, it's a potent symbol of power, isn't it? A reminder of the emperor's reach and authority, intertwined with the everyday lives of people of all identities. Curator: Absolutely. By studying the coin's wear and its presence in archaeological finds, we can reconstruct trade routes, economic activity, and even social hierarchies. Editor: It's fascinating how an object so small can illuminate such grand narratives. I leave with a deeper appreciation for the intersections of power, labor, and daily life in Byzantium. Curator: A fitting reminder of the tangible links between material culture and the shaping of history.