Follis of Phokas and Leontia

This Byzantine coin of Phokas and Leontia is a copper follis. The reverse reveals its value with the letter “M”, meaning 40 nummi (Grierson 1968, p. 187). This side of the coin also consists of numerous inscriptions that indicate the mint location and the date of the coin. The obverse consists of two figures, Phokas (left), and his wife, Leontia (right). Phokas is holding a globus cruciger upright in his right hand while Leontia is to the right, holding a cruciform scepter over her right shoulder in her right hand. This coin was minted in Antioch in 603/604 CE. The follis during this time period was equivalent to 1/288 of a solidus (Grierson 1999, p. 43). Since copper coins had a lower value, it was common for people of all financial backgrounds to be using this coin. Thus, the widespread accessibility of this coin creates propaganda of the Christian and imperial symbols depicted within the coin. This coin can be compared to how Justinian and Theodora portrayed themselves at San Vitale. In these two mosaics, they are the center of attention, wearing different clothing and jewelry with halos around them. These two images emphasize the imperial glorification of these two rulers. Despite Phokas and Leontia having a lackluster reign, they are depicted with the same level of renown as Justinian and Theodora in their mosaic images (Grierson 1991). This relates back to the use of currency as propaganda, especially since this would be the only way for the public to see images of the rulers. As shown by Michael Yonan, materiality is central to our understanding of objects (Yonan 2019). The rulers’ intention can be realized by understanding that copper was not an expensive material during this time period; thus, we can recognize Phokas and Leontia’s goal of outreach to the public in promotion of themselves. Bibliography Grierson, Philip. 1999. Byzantine Coinage. Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. Grierson, Philip. 1968. Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, vol. 2, Phocas to Theodosius III, 602–717. Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. Grierson, Philip. 1991. “Phokas.” In The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, ed. Alexander P. Kazhdan. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Yonan, Michael. 2019. “Materiality as Periphery.” Visual Resources 35, nos. 3-4: 200–216. Nicholas Lewis (’23) for ARHS 110 (Fall 2022)https://digital.kenyon.edu/arthistorystudycollection/2588/thumbnail.jp