Coin of Herakleios c. 611 - 612

Curator: This object from the Harvard Art Museums is a copper coin of Herakleios, though it was produced by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyad Caliphate. Editor: It's surprisingly evocative, isn't it? The corrosion gives it a haunted feel. It makes me think of palimpsests—the way one culture overlays another. Curator: Precisely! It's a visual representation of power shifts. The coin initially imitated Byzantine currency to maintain trade, but it gradually incorporated Arabic script, marking a cultural assertion. Editor: The figure on one side—a crude depiction of Herakleios, no doubt—seems almost imprisoned by the Arabic characters taking over the other side. Curator: You've hit upon something essential. The image of the emperor slowly transforms into a symbol of the new ruling power, subtly eroding the prior cultural dominance. Editor: So, this small coin isn’t just currency; it’s a powerful statement about cultural and political transition. Curator: Indeed, a potent reminder that symbols are never neutral; they are always embedded in the currents of history.