Copper Imitation of Follis of Herakleios, Tabariya 638 - 641

Editor: Here we have a copper imitation of a Follis of Herakleios from Tabariya, crafted by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyads. It's such a small object, yet it speaks volumes. What can you tell us about it? Curator: Consider the materiality. It's copper, a base metal, yet it mimics a more valuable coin. This speaks to systems of production and value under the Umayyads. What does imitation imply about social hierarchies and trade at the time? Editor: That’s fascinating! So, its value comes less from the material and more from its function within a social and economic system? Curator: Precisely. The coin's existence challenges the idea of art existing in a vacuum. The labor involved, the distribution networks, all tell a story of cultural exchange and power dynamics. It's about more than just the image stamped on its surface. Editor: I never thought about a coin in quite that way before. Thanks for expanding my perspective! Curator: My pleasure. Thinking about art as a product of material conditions, labor, and consumption opens up new avenues for understanding.