Anonymous Follis c. 1070 - 1075

Curator: Here we have an Anonymous Follis, a coin that resides in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Its creation is without a known author. Editor: My first impression is its weight, both literal at 6.32 grams, and symbolic. It feels burdened, doesn’t it? Like holding history itself. Curator: Indeed. The object's circular form, though worn, presents two distinct faces, each employing symbolic imagery: a portrait and a cross. The cross design, embellished with curls, becomes a focal point. Editor: The degradation is interesting. It softens the edges, blurring the lines between symbol and erosion. It makes me wonder how many hands it passed through, what stories it could tell. Curator: Precisely. One can speculate about the coin's journey through exchange, trade, and perhaps even burial. It's a silent artifact echoing a past we can only partially reconstruct. Editor: It reminds me that art doesn’t need a signature to resonate. Its value lies in its existence, in the questions it provokes. Curator: A fitting conclusion. The Follis invites us to contemplate the convergence of form, function, and the enigmatic nature of historical witness. Editor: Yes, a tangible echo, waiting to be heard.