Anonymous follis of Michael IV 

Editor: This is an anonymous follis, a coin, from the reign of Michael IV. Seeing its worn surface, I wonder about the hands it passed through. What insights can you offer? Curator: The coin's material composition, likely bronze, reflects economic production and resource availability of the time. Its creation involved mining, smelting, and striking – labor processes crucial to understand. Editor: So, it's more than just currency; it's a product of labor? Curator: Precisely. Consider the social context: who controlled the mines, the workshops, and who profited? The coin embodies power structures and trade networks. Editor: I never thought about it that way! It’s a window into the economic and social landscape of the Byzantine Empire. Curator: Exactly, and understanding the means of production reveals so much more than just the face value.