Anonymous Follis c. 1065 - 1070

Editor: This is an intriguing object, an Anonymous Follis from the Harvard Art Museums. Seeing these worn faces on either side, I wonder, what stories do they hold? Curator: Indeed. Notice the repeated motif of the ruler on one side and a religious figure on the other. This repetition, like a mantra, reinforces power and divine sanction. What emotional response does that evoke in you? Editor: A sense of continuity, of systems persisting. But also, perhaps, a feeling of oppression? Curator: Precisely. These symbols, circulated widely, shaped the cultural memory, embedding beliefs and hierarchies. Symbols echo and evolve across generations. Editor: It's fascinating how something so small can carry such weight. Thanks, I learned so much.