Anonymous Follis (Coin), Attributed to Constantine IX
1042-1055
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diam.: 2.8 cm (1 1/8 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
36662
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This bronze Anonymous Follis, attributed to the reign of Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX (1042–1055), offers a glimpse into the monetary system of the medieval Byzantine Empire. Measuring just 2.8 centimeters across, this small coin was struck in bronze and circulated widely across the empire’s territories. Unlike earlier imperial issues that featured the emperor’s portrait, these “anonymous” folles omitted personal imagery, reflecting a notable shift in how currency conveyed authority and faith during this period. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium ...
About the Artist
Byzantine
"Byzantine" is the collective attribution given to anonymous artists working within the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, whose creations spanned from the 4th to the 15th centuries, primarily in Constantinople and its cultural sphere. These masters produced a vast body of art that defined an era, with museums like the Walters Art Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago cataloging numerous works un...