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

Curator: Here we have a Half Follis of Anastasios I, from Constantinople. The weight of the coin is 5.53 grams. Editor: The coin has a simple, weathered beauty. It makes me wonder about the labor involved in minting something like this. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the socioeconomic implications of imperial currency and power in relation to Anastasios I and the Byzantine Empire. Editor: And what this particular coin might have purchased? Its materiality speaks to a vast network of exchange. Curator: Yes, this object represents power and identity during a transformative period, when we see the construction of new religious and political orthodoxies. Editor: It's a fascinating convergence of skill, purpose, and historical impact. I'm left pondering the journey it took to get here.