Coin of Herakleios c. 610 - 613

Curator: Here we have an intriguing coin, believed to be designed by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyad Caliphate. It's a fascinating example of early Islamic coinage, repurposed from the Byzantine era. Editor: It's gorgeous! Immediately, I'm struck by its weight—a physical manifestation of power and wealth compressed into something so small. Curator: Indeed. The imagery is potent. The coin retains the figure of Herakleios, a Byzantine emperor, but it’s been altered to suit Islamic ideology. Note how the symbols are adapted. Editor: Right, it's like a palimpsest, layers of cultural meaning competing for space. The cross becomes less pronounced, softened to integrate with the emerging Umayyad identity. Clever, really. Curator: Precisely! This coin embodies a pivotal moment of cultural and religious transformation, revealing the complexities of assimilation and adaptation. Editor: It's more than just money, isn’t it? It's a tiny monument to shifting power. Makes you wonder what stories it could tell if it could talk. Curator: A silent witness to history, indeed. Editor: Food for thought... and hopefully something that prompts our audience to think too.