Copper Imitation of Follis of Herakleios, Aelia-Filastin (Jerusalem) 638 - 641

Editor: This is a copper imitation of a Follis of Herakleios from Aelia-Filastin, or Jerusalem, made by Abd-al-Malik. It feels like holding a fragment of a lost empire. What can you tell me about the imagery? Curator: Consider the coin's function: a tool of power. The Umayyads, in creating this imitation, engaged in a dialogue with the visual language of the Byzantine Empire they conquered. What symbols endure, and which are deliberately altered, signaling a shift in cultural dominance? Editor: So, by imitating, they're also making a statement? Curator: Precisely. The imagery, even in its imitation, carries a weight of cultural memory. It's not just about currency; it's about continuity and change, power and perception. What do you think people thought when they used this coin? Editor: I hadn’t considered that the coin itself could be a message. Thanks, this gives me a new way to look at it.