Dinar of al-Amir, Misr c. 12th century

Editor: This is a gold Dinar of al-Amir from Misr. The inscriptions are beautiful. What do you see in this piece beyond its monetary value? Curator: The imagery speaks volumes. Consider how inscriptions, often religious or political, were literally impressed upon people's daily lives through currency. The act of exchange became a constant negotiation with symbolic power. What stories do you think this coin could tell about the ruler who minted it? Editor: I never thought about it that way! It's like a portable propaganda piece. Curator: Exactly. Coins are little time capsules, carrying intentional messages across generations. Editor: I’ll definitely look at coins differently now.