Copper Imitation of Follis of Herakleios, Damascus 638 - 641

Curator: This copper coin, a Follis of Herakleios, was imitated in Damascus under Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyad Caliphate. Editor: It looks so worn and aged, like a physical manifestation of time and power shifting. The patina gives it such presence. Curator: Absolutely. Imitation coins were a critical practice in asserting dominance, mirroring existing symbols while subtly laying claim to new authority. Editor: The symbols of cross and lettering would have been recognizable, yet repurposed. I wonder what cultural associations those forms carried then, and even now. Curator: Power, legitimacy, faith... these images served as visual anchors, both maintaining continuity and signaling transformation in a society undergoing profound change. Editor: Seeing how empires co-opt and transform symbolic language really brings history to life in a tangible way. Curator: Indeed, a tiny object packed with layers of meaning, reflecting cultural and political upheaval.