Dirham of al-Mahdi, Madina-t al-Salam (Baghdad) c. 8th century

Editor: This is the Dirham of al-Mahdi, from Madina-t al-Salam, or Baghdad. It's a silver coin. I notice the text on it, but I can't read it. What can you tell me about the significance of the inscriptions? Curator: Consider the coin as a symbol, a tangible representation of power and belief. The inscriptions aren't merely text; they're declarations of faith, affirmations of rule. What emotional impact might these symbols have had on those who used this coin? Editor: So, it's not just money but propaganda, in a way? I guess seeing the ruler's name every day would reinforce their authority. Curator: Precisely. And the choice of script, the arrangement of the text – all contribute to the cultural memory being constructed. What does it mean to have that kind of symbolic power concentrated in something so small, yet so widely circulated? Editor: I never thought about a coin carrying so much cultural weight! It's amazing how much we can learn from such a small object.