Coin of Herakleios c. 613 - 620

Editor: This is a coin of Herakleios, made by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyads. It's small and quite worn. What strikes me most is its age and the journey it must have taken. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This coin represents a pivotal moment of cultural and political negotiation. It's not just currency; it's a declaration of power. The Umayyads, in adopting and adapting Byzantine coinage, were signaling both continuity and a break with the past. How does the visual language of the coin challenge or reinforce existing power structures, do you think? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way, but that's fascinating! It’s like they’re speaking in a familiar language while subtly changing the message. Curator: Precisely. It makes me wonder about the messages embedded within the art we consume today. It prompts questions about appropriation, resistance, and the ongoing dialogue between past and present.