Anonymous Follis c. 1065 - 1070

Curator: Here we have an Anonymous Follis, held at the Harvard Art Museums. Each side of this coin features a religious figure in relief. What strikes you first about this piece? Editor: The weight of history. The figures, worn smooth in places, still resonate with a spiritual power that transcends its time. Curator: Absolutely. The imagery speaks to the Byzantine era's interwoven spiritual and political landscapes. Its circulation speaks to the everyday lives of people living at that time. Editor: The halo, of course, a potent symbol across cultures, marks these figures as sacred. It speaks to notions of divinity and authority. Curator: It’s remarkable how objects like these serve as tangible links to complex social structures. Editor: Indeed, a small object holding immense symbolic meaning.