Coin of Herakleios c. 618 - 628

Editor: Here we have a bronze coin of Herakleios, but produced under Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyads. It's quite small, worn, but you can still make out the imagery. What strikes you about the visual construction of this piece? Curator: The Byzantine aesthetic continues to exert a considerable influence here. Note the frontal, hieratic representation on one side, rigidly symmetrical. On the other, we see a deliberate combination of image and text. Editor: So, the formal elements speak to a kind of hybridity? Curator: Precisely. One sees the lingering strength of earlier artistic languages being intentionally reworked within a newer ideological framework. The patina adds another layer, suggesting time and transformation. Editor: It’s fascinating how much information can be gleaned from such a small object! Curator: Indeed, the interplay of form and context allows for deeper insights into cultural exchange.