Anonymous Follis c. 1065 - 1070

Editor: We’re looking at an anonymous follis, likely a bronze coin, housed here at Harvard. Seeing the wear and tear, it makes me wonder about all the hands it passed through. What story do you think it whispers? Curator: Oh, the stories it could tell! To me, it feels like a tiny, tangible echo of a lost empire. Think of the daily lives, the markets, the very pulse of a civilization captured in this little disc. Can you sense the weight of history? Editor: I do! But beyond history, what about its artistic merit? Curator: It's not just about artistry, but about communication. Each symbol, each indentation served a purpose. What do these images evoke in you? Perhaps power? Religion? Editor: Definitely a sense of enduring power, I hadn’t thought of it that way. Curator: Precisely! It’s a little window into a world, and a reminder that even the smallest objects can carry the biggest stories.