Coin of Herakleios c. 613 - 641

Editor: Here we have a gold coin of Herakleios by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyads. It looks pretty small, but so detailed. What can you tell me about it? Curator: I see a fascinating interplay of power and materiality. The coin's very existence speaks to trade routes, resource extraction, and the labor involved in minting it. It's not just an image; it's a record of early Islamic society's interaction with Byzantine coinage. Editor: So, the coin itself is a statement about resources and labor? Curator: Precisely. Consider the social context. How does the use of gold, a precious material, reflect the economic and political power of the Umayyads, especially in their relationship with the Byzantine Empire? It encourages us to explore how the materials themselves contribute to the message. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. I'll definitely think about the materials more closely next time.