Half Follis of Herakleios, Rome 629 - 641

Editor: Here we have a Half Follis of Herakleios, Rome, made by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyads. It's pretty worn, but you can still see some of the details. What can you tell us about the cultural context of minting coins like these? Curator: This coin is a fascinating example of cultural and political negotiation. Abd-al-Malik, an Umayyad caliph, initially imitated Byzantine coinage. Why do you think he chose to do that? Editor: Maybe to show continuity and legitimacy after conquering Byzantine territories? Curator: Exactly! But gradually, he Arabized the coinage, replacing Christian symbols and Greek script with Arabic inscriptions. This reflects the growing assertion of Islamic identity and power. Editor: So the coin becomes a site of ideological struggle? It's a small object with a big story to tell! Curator: Precisely. And studying how these coins changed over time gives us insights into the complex dynamics of cultural exchange and political transformation.