Follis of Phokas, Constantinople 605 - 606

Curator: This is a Follis of Phokas from Constantinople. Its creation is credited to Phokas himself. What's your initial response to it? Editor: Well, right away, it strikes me as haunted. The coin’s patinated surface and worn edges suggest a life well-handled, or perhaps ill-handled, considering Phokas's violent end. Curator: Indeed, the Formalist approach would focus on the texture and composition. The coin's design, though faded, reveals a deliberate arrangement of symbols representing imperial power. Editor: For me, it's a tangible link to a tumultuous past. Each scratch and imperfection seems to whisper stories of Byzantine intrigue and power struggles. Imagine holding history in your hand, literally! Curator: It's a fragment, certainly. Considering the history of this tyrant, such an object offers a compelling paradox. A symbol meant to project strength, now a fragile testament to time's relentless march. Editor: Yes, seeing its materiality really brings history to life in a way textbooks often miss. Curator: A fascinating echo of an emperor.