Anonymous Follis c. 1042 - 1050

Curator: Before us, we have an Anonymous Follis at the Harvard Art Museums, a modest bronze coin. The artist is, as the title suggests, unknown. Editor: The immediate impression is one of age and solemnity. The relief is worn, but there's a striking balance in its layout, wouldn't you say? Curator: Indeed. The central figure on one side is likely Christ, judging by the halo and the gesture. The other side shows a cross with ornate details, which speaks volumes about the Byzantine era. Editor: Absolutely. The symbolic weight is palpable. The figure of Christ connects to centuries of religious art. It shows the endurance of faith through the ages, communicated by such a small, humble item. Curator: Perhaps. But observe the lines of the drapery, the circular composition framed by a beaded border. Its visual rhythm creates a sense of formal order, divorced from any literal reading. Editor: I think the artist made some intentional decisions on how to depict some of these symbols, some of them were even influenced by earlier art and cultural contexts. Curator: And that, I suppose, is what makes this little coin endlessly fascinating. Editor: A small object with an expansive cultural and historical echo.