Fulus of Sulayman Shah, with Horseman right and Kufic legend c. 12th century

Editor: Here we have a Fulus of Sulayman Shah, featuring a horseman and Kufic script. It's small, worn, but somehow still carries a weight of history. What can you tell me about its significance? Curator: This coin speaks volumes about power, identity, and cultural exchange in its time. Consider the image of the horseman – a symbol of strength and authority, but also conquest. How might this image have been received by different communities within Sulayman Shah's realm? Editor: That's a great question! It makes me think about whose stories are told on coins like these, and whose are left out. Curator: Exactly. And the Kufic script, a beautiful but potentially inaccessible form of writing for some, further complicates the narrative. Examining these layers helps us understand whose voices were privileged. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way before. Seeing art as a form of historical dialogue is really insightful. Curator: Indeed, art is not a passive object but an active participant in cultural conversations.