Anonymous Follis c. 1075 - 1080

Curator: This is an Anonymous Follis, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Wow, it’s aged, hasn’t it? Looks like it's seen a thing or two. The raised details are worn smooth. Curator: Indeed. The imagery, despite its age, still evokes powerful cultural memories. On one side, we see Christ, holding the Gospel, and on the reverse, a cross. Editor: It's quite humble, though—a simple cross design. You can tell this was made to be used, to be handled, passed around. It makes you wonder who held onto this piece. Curator: Absolutely, each symbol—the image of Christ, the cross—speaks volumes about faith and the Byzantine world. Editor: It does make you think about the echoes through time. Curator: A coin connects us to the economics, religion, and the everyday life of a distant past. Editor: It almost feels like a talisman, doesn't it? A little prayer in your pocket.