Anonymous Follis c. 1042 - 1050

Editor: Here we have an anonymous follis coin from the Harvard Art Museums. Looking at its worn surface, I am struck by the labor involved in its production and circulation. What can you tell me about its significance? Curator: The creation of this coin involves a complex system of resource extraction, skilled labor, and economic exchange. We can consider the value judgments assigned to the coin and to those who mined the metal, designed the imagery, and struck each individual piece. How does this object complicate our understanding of Byzantine society? Editor: It makes me think about the economic systems that underpinned the art we see displayed more prominently. Thank you! Curator: Indeed! By focusing on the materiality and production of objects like this follis, we gain insights into broader economic and social forces.