Coin of Herakleios c. 616s

Curator: Look at this incredible piece, a gold coin of Herakleios, but produced under Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyad Caliphate. Editor: It's striking how much the Byzantine imagery still dominates even when produced by the Umayyads. The cross is so prominent. Curator: Precisely. It shows the complexities of early Islamic coinage. They were actively grappling with pre-existing economic systems, essentially rebranding the existing currencies. Editor: The symbolism is fascinating. We see Herakleios and his son, and then the stylized cross. The coin is clearly meant to convey both power and religious authority, even while the inscriptions shift to Arabic. Curator: It speaks to the material realities of early Islamic administration, using existing Byzantine mints and labor to produce currency while gradually asserting their own visual and linguistic identity. Editor: It's amazing how a small coin can encapsulate such a complex transitional moment, and how potent those symbols remain, even today. Curator: Absolutely, and how gold itself becomes a crucial material in understanding these power dynamics. Editor: Definitely gives you something to think about.