Coin of Herakleios c. 613 - 641

Editor: Here we see the Coin of Herakleios, crafted by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyads. This tiny gold object feels monumental, a portal to a time of shifting empires. What symbols speak to you most powerfully here? Curator: The standing figure of Herakleios, adapted from Byzantine imagery, is fascinating. But notice the reverse: a cross atop what seems to be Mount Golgotha. How does this image function as both a claim of continuity and a subtle declaration of a new order? Editor: That’s a really interesting point. It's like a visual bridge between two worlds, right? Curator: Precisely. The image carries the weight of both cultural memory and nascent power. I encourage you to consider how images can subtly reshape understanding. Editor: This makes me rethink how symbols can be both about the past and a vision for the future. Curator: Indeed, a coin can be so much more than mere currency.