Follis of Anastasios I, Constantinople c. 498 - 518

Curator: This artifact, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums, is a Follis of Anastasios I, struck in Constantinople. Editor: It feels weighty, doesn't it? Not just in the literal sense of its 8.69 grams, but with the gravity of history embedded in its worn surface. Curator: Indeed. Notice the relief of Anastasios on one side, and the large "M" denoting its value on the other, meticulously rendered. Editor: That "M" is fascinating. It transcends mere currency; it's an emblem of power and imperial authority, projecting stability across the realm. Curator: Precisely. The composition is symmetrical, designed to project order. The very materiality speaks to the empire's economic foundation. Editor: It's like holding a tiny piece of a fallen empire, imbued with its ambitions, anxieties, and visual language. Curator: A language still decipherable today through careful analysis. Editor: And evocative of an era where symbols held immense power.