Anonymous Follis c. 1042 - 1050

Editor: This is an Anonymous Follis, a bronze coin, at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s… small, and worn. What can you tell us about this piece? Curator: This coin speaks volumes about production and material context. The base metal reflects its use in everyday transactions and the wear signifies the labor of exchange. Consider the social implications of who controlled the minting process. Editor: So, not just about what it depicts, but who made it, and how they used it? Curator: Precisely. It's a lens onto economic systems and power dynamics, challenging the notion of "art" as separate from craft or labor. Editor: I never considered a coin as a document of material culture before. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Thinking about art this way opens up many avenues for understanding history.