Follis of Anastasios I, Antioch c. 498 - 518

Curator: Here we have a Follis of Anastasios I. It's small, but holds so much history in its weathered surface. It reminds me of a tiny portal. Editor: Yes, you notice immediately the effects of time on this copper alloy coin, but that wear and tear is so interesting to me. Think of all the hands it passed through! Curator: Exactly! And each of those hands, each transaction, added to its story. The portrait of Anastasios, almost rubbed away, feels like a ghost of power. Editor: This wasn't just art, but currency, a tool of empire. The value was in the metal, the labor, and the state's authority to stamp its image upon it. Curator: But there's still something deeply human here, a yearning for legacy, a touch of the divine. I can almost feel the weight of that ambition. Editor: I agree, it's all about understanding the means, the materials, and the making. Curator: A lovely little thing! Editor: Absolutely, material culture speaking volumes.