Anonymous Follis c. 1065 - 1070

Curator: We're looking at an Anonymous Follis from the Harvard Art Museums. What immediately strikes you about this small object? Editor: The weight of history, literally. It feels weighty, burdened by time and wear. You can see how much it was used. Curator: Absolutely. These were used as currency, circulating throughout the Byzantine Empire. We don't know exactly who made it or when. This speaks volumes about labor, material production, and its role in society. Editor: And the image itself—Christ Pantocrator—asserted religious and political authority, shaping the worldview of those who handled it. It’s like a tiny propaganda machine! Curator: Precisely! This small coin reflects grand historical narratives and the everyday lives of people. Editor: It gives you a different sense of art when it is used for everyday commerce and mass consumption. Curator: A tactile reminder of the past. Editor: Indeed.