Half Follis of Phokas, Carthage 606 - 607

Editor: This is a Half Follis of Phokas from Carthage. It’s…well, it looks like a very old coin. It seems almost worn down, you can barely make out the image. What can you tell me about its cultural role? Curator: This coin, issued under Phokas, speaks volumes about power and legitimacy. Minting coinage was a crucial way for rulers to project their authority and control in a society. Editor: So, the coin was as much about communication as currency? Curator: Precisely! The images and inscriptions were carefully chosen to convey specific messages about the emperor's strength, piety, and right to rule. How do you think its circulation might have impacted different social classes? Editor: That's a great question, because even something as small as this coin shows how art can reflect and shape social realities. Curator: Indeed, understanding the historical context of such objects is key to interpreting their cultural significance.