Anonymous Follis c. 1030 - 1042

Curator: Immediately, I'm struck by the weathering of this diminutive object; the textures seem to bear the weight of history. Editor: This is an Anonymous Follis, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums, a small coin used in Byzantium. Its materiality speaks volumes about empire and daily exchange. Curator: The composition is quite compelling. On one face, a bust in profile, and on the other, an almost grid-like pattern of markings. What symbolic values might these have held? Editor: Well, the figure likely represents Christ, and the reverse likely contains the inscription "Jesus Christ, King of those who reign." These coins were an assertion of authority, linking imperial power to divine right. Curator: A fascinating intersection of the aesthetic and the political. How might the reception of such a commonplace object shape larger social beliefs? Editor: Precisely! These coins were a tool for disseminating ideology, reaching a wide audience through mundane transactions. Curator: A truly interesting piece. It has made me consider the potency in the design of everyday objects. Editor: Indeed, considering its place in the Byzantine world truly illuminates how the smallest objects held real political and social weight.