Half Follis of Anastasios I, Constantinople c. 498 - 518

Editor: This is a Half Follis of Anastasios I from Constantinople. It’s… small, but it looks like it was once very shiny. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This coin highlights labor, materiality, and consumption. The act of minting this coin involved the extraction of raw materials, specialized labor, and a system of distribution and exchange. What does the coin’s devaluation through wear and tear reveal about its function within the Byzantine economy? Editor: I never thought about it that way. It's not just a portrait, but a record of labor and an economic tool. Thanks! Curator: Exactly! By examining the process and use of this coin, we gain insights into the material conditions and social structures of the Byzantine Empire.