Anonymous Follis c. 1060 - 1065

Editor: This is an anonymous follis, a coin, from the Harvard Art Museums. The material looks like bronze. I’m struck by the wear and tear, the sense of something passed from hand to hand. What can we learn from this object? Curator: We can learn about the very tangible aspects of production, use, and economic exchange. The coin's material composition, the bronze itself, tells a story of mining, smelting, and labor. Editor: So, it is more than just an image; it is also about the history of the material. Curator: Exactly. Its worn state indicates its circulation through society. Editor: That makes me appreciate the coin in a completely different way. Curator: The means of production and the evidence of use truly bring history to life.