Anonymous Follis c. 1042 - 1050

Curator: What a weathered surface! It evokes a sense of history, doesn't it? Editor: Indeed. This is an Anonymous Follis from the Harvard Art Museums, a Byzantine coin. What catches my eye is the imagery – a haloed figure on one side, and a cross with inscriptions on the other. Curator: The figure certainly bears a resemblance to traditional depictions of Christ. These coins, though anonymous in terms of rulers, carry a powerful symbolic weight. The cross, the abbreviated inscription "Jesus Christ, Victor," it all speaks volumes about the Byzantine worldview. Editor: Absolutely. The anonymity itself is fascinating. What social shifts might have led to such a decision in the Byzantine empire? This small object opens up a whole host of questions about power, belief, and the role of imagery. Curator: It's a poignant reminder of how symbols persist, transcending individual names, and acting as a cultural anchor through time. Editor: Right, and how even mundane objects like coins can tell us so much about the grand sweep of history.