Follis of Phocas, Carthage 

Curator:Let's talk about this Follis of Phocas from Carthage. It's a small bronze coin, seemingly insignificant, but it speaks volumes about power and legitimacy in a turbulent era. What strikes you about it? Editor:The worn surface and the somewhat crude imagery give it a very raw, almost desperate feel. What can we learn from this object about the person and period it represents? Curator:Consider the historical context. Phocas was a usurper, seizing power violently. This coin, circulated widely, served as propaganda. How might the imagery, however degraded, reinforce or challenge his authority? The images and inscriptions were meant to convey legitimacy. Editor:So even in its current state, it's telling a story about power and how rulers try to control narratives. Curator:Exactly. And how those narratives are received and reinterpreted by different social groups. It is also a symbol of late antique economic and religious life, connecting to larger narratives of political and cultural shift. Editor:I never would have thought a coin could hold so much significance. Thanks for sharing your perspective! Curator:My pleasure. It's in these everyday objects that we often find the most compelling insights into history and humanity.