Coin of Herakleios c. 629 - 630

Editor: This is a coin of Herakleios by Abd-al-Malik from the Umayyad Dynasty, held at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks well-worn. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: The coin’s material itself tells a fascinating story of production and consumption, doesn't it? Think about where the metal came from, the labor involved in mining and minting it, and how its value was determined. Editor: Yes, that's really interesting! Curator: Consider the social context. This coin was likely a critical tool in trade and taxation. Abd-al-Malik's decision to adapt Byzantine coinage reveals a great deal about the social and political landscape. What do you make of the imagery and inscriptions? Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn't considered. Thanks! Curator: Thinking about its materiality and social context, we understand this coin as more than just currency; it's a historical artifact reflecting labor, power, and cultural exchange.