Anonymous Follis c. 1065 - 1070

Editor: This is an Anonymous Follis from the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a small, worn coin, but the imprinted figures are still visible. What can we learn about this piece? Curator: The wear on the coin is crucial. It speaks to its journey through countless hands, its participation in the daily economic and social exchanges of its time. Think of the labor involved in mining the metal, crafting the die, striking the coin – all human effort now compressed into this small object. Editor: So, it's not just a coin but a record of labor and exchange? Curator: Precisely. The coin embodies the material conditions of its creation and its subsequent life. It’s a testament to material consumption, use, and social relationships. Has your perspective shifted? Editor: Yes, I now see the Follis as a symbol of the historical processes that shaped it.