Anonymous Follis c. 976 - 1035

Curator: Here we have an Anonymous Follis, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It looks ancient and worn, the green patina contrasting beautifully with the reddish-brown metal. What’s it made of? Curator: Its 9.13 grams of humble bronze speaks volumes about its widespread use as Byzantine currency. The iconography, though, provides a fascinating look at the intersection of imperial power and religious authority. Editor: Absolutely. Consider the labor involved in its production, and the act of striking the metal and imprinting images, and dispersing these symbols across a society. Curator: Precisely. These coins were both tools for trade and powerful political tools, circulating ideology. The image of Christ and the inscriptions reinforced imperial legitimacy. Editor: Seeing the object itself, feeling its weight, really grounds these historical details. Curator: Indeed, it’s a material reminder of a complex past. Editor: A humbling artifact.