Dirham of Marwan II, Wasit 746 - 747

Curator: This is a Dirham of Marwan II, struck in Wasit, present-day Iraq. Editor: It looks like a corroded old coin, like something found buried in a field. The weight of history, you know? Curator: Indeed. It's more than just currency, it's a symbolic declaration. The inscriptions are standardized Islamic phrases, affirmations of faith and legitimacy of rule. Editor: Like a visual mantra? Intended to permeate society beyond just monetary value. I wonder who held this, what exchanges it facilitated? Curator: Precisely. These Dirhams served as a portable reminder of the ruler's authority, and also connected the user to a broader cultural and religious world. Editor: It's amazing to think this little disc carries so much symbolic weight, even now. It makes me want to go metal detecting! Curator: An appropriate response, as it's a lasting physical echo of empire. Editor: Absolutely. The past isn't really gone, it just accumulates, one coin at a time.