Coin of Herakleios c. 622 - 623

Curator: This is a bronze coin issued by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyads. Editor: It looks worn and small, almost forgotten by time. Curator: Indeed. It’s intriguing because it imitates Byzantine coinage, depicting Herakleios with his sons, but with subtle yet powerful changes. Editor: I see the figures, though faintly. The lines are quite linear; did they change the design much? Curator: Substantially! It signified a shift in power. Abd-al-Malik gradually replaced the Byzantine imagery with Arabic script, marking a pivotal moment in the Islamic world. Editor: So, it represents not just an economic instrument, but also a bold declaration of cultural and political identity? Curator: Precisely. This coin is a statement, a visual signal of a new era taking shape. Editor: The details may be subtle, but their cumulative effect is undeniable. It's like seeing history compressed into a tiny, metallic form.