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

Curator: This is a Half Follis of Anastasios I, minted in Constantinople. Its creation speaks volumes about the Byzantine economy and imperial power structures of the time. Editor: It's so small, yet feels weighty somehow, like holding a tiny piece of history right there in your palm. You know, imagining all the hands it must have passed through. Curator: Absolutely. The portrait of Anastasios I is a powerful symbol of his reign, and the "K" on the reverse represents the coin's value, while the cross signals the increasing influence of Christianity. Editor: It almost whispers of an empire grappling with change, trying to balance faith and finance. Makes you wonder about the lives of the people who used it daily. Curator: Indeed, it invites contemplation on the intersections of politics, religion, and the daily lives of ordinary people within the Byzantine Empire. Editor: I like that. It's a reminder that even the smallest things can tell the biggest stories.