Dirham of Hisham, Damascus 741 - 742

Editor: This is a silver dirham from Damascus, created during the reign of Hisham. Its worn texture makes me think about the hands it passed through. How do you interpret its history? Curator: The dirham reflects the Umayyad Caliphate's assertion of power through standardized currency. Considering its circulation, how might this seemingly small object have shaped economic and social relationships across the empire and beyond? Editor: So it's not just money, it's a statement. Fascinating! Curator: Precisely! It highlights how objects of daily use can embody political and ideological messaging, shaping identities and interactions across vast distances. Editor: I never thought of a coin holding so much history! Curator: Indeed. And what can this tell us about our world today?