Large Follis of Anastasios I, Constantinople c. 498 - 518

Editor: This is a Large Follis coin of Anastasios I, from Constantinople. It's weathered, but the portrait is still striking. What does this coin tell us about the society that produced it? Curator: This coin is so much more than currency; it's a statement of imperial power and a window into the social anxieties of its time. The very act of minting coins with Anastasios's image was a way to assert control, but also to manage how he was perceived. Editor: How so? Curator: Consider the symbolism – the weight of the coin, the depicted imagery of the emperor, and the inscriptions were all carefully chosen to project an image of stability and prosperity during a time of political and social upheaval. These are the original social networks. Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way. It’s like early propaganda. Curator: Precisely. And it reflects the ongoing struggles over identity, representation, and power that continue to resonate today.