Half Follis of Anastasios I, Constantinople 498 - 518

Curator: Here we have a Half Follis of Anastasios I, likely from Constantinople. It is quite small at 7.7 grams. Editor: It appears worn, almost smoothed by time. The textures, both in the material itself and the relief, hint at layers of history. Curator: Indeed. The obverse likely depicts Anastasios himself, while the reverse bears a large "K," representing its value. Note the deliberate composition; the arrangement of symbols and their relation to the coin’s form. Editor: It speaks volumes about the social and political context of its time—currency as propaganda, power asserted through iconography. Who had access to this coin, and what did it mean for them? Curator: The coin's materiality, the copper itself, communicates value. One must appreciate the semiotic power condensed into such a small object. Editor: It's a reminder of how intertwined currency and power are. Each mark and imperfection carries a story of exchange and daily life. Curator: Analyzing its form reveals much about the emperor's desire for control. Editor: And prompts us to question whose stories are missing.