Follis of Heraclius, Nicomedia 

Curator: Here we have a follis coin of Heraclius from Nicomedia. This piece is attributed to Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyad Caliphate and is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It looks so old and worn, like a forgotten memory pulled from the earth. Curator: Yes, the weathering adds to its narrative. The composition on one side features what seems to be a standing figure, though heavily degraded. Editor: It makes me think about empires rising and falling, the slow grind of time turning monuments into dust and power into memory. Curator: Indeed. The materiality of the copper alloy speaks to both its utility as currency and its endurance as an artifact. It offers insights into economic and political shifts. Editor: Absolutely. It's a little portal. This small, worn coin whispers epic stories. Curator: Precisely, a physical representation of history, altered by time. Editor: I'm grateful it has survived to remind us about the past.