Follis of Herakleios, Constantinople 

Curator: This is a Follis of Herakleios, produced in Constantinople but attributed to Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyad Caliphate. Its weight is 5.14 grams. Editor: The coin’s worn surface and muted bronze tones give it a solemn, weighty presence, like a relic imbued with forgotten histories. Curator: The piece highlights the complexities of power and identity in the early Islamic world, reflecting the intersection of Byzantine and Islamic artistic traditions. Editor: Yes, the imagery is fascinating! It clearly depicts figures, yet their exact meanings are obscured by the passage of time and cultural shifts. Curator: Considering the Umayyad Caliphate's expansion, this coin speaks to the negotiations of cultural dominance through economic control and visual messaging. Editor: The visual language of coinage always struck me as fascinating—these objects were designed to be carried, traded, and seen by wide audiences. Curator: Precisely, and this coin reveals much about cultural syncretism and the negotiation of power in that period. Editor: Indeed, it's a testament to how symbols and power are intricately intertwined.