Anonymous Follis c. 1070 - 1075

Curator: Here we have an Anonymous Follis, of unknown origin, housed at the Harvard Art Museums and weighing a mere 6.21 grams. Editor: Instantly, I'm struck by how time marks it. The patina tells a story of hands, pockets, and maybe even buried treasure. Curator: Indeed. Observe the deliberate circular form and the two main images. One side depicts a figure, possibly a ruler or religious icon, while the reverse features a cross. The symmetry is quite compelling. Editor: I see a kind of mirrored weight. A leader's authority on one side, faith on the other – the very things people built their lives on. Curator: Precisely. The iconographic juxtaposition invites inquiry into the cultural and spiritual values it represents. Editor: Touching this piece you might feel the heavy choices people made guided by belief and shaped by power. Curator: A potent reminder that even the smallest objects can carry the weight of history. Editor: It’s almost like holding a tiny, dense seed of history in your hands.