Coin of Badr Al-Din Lu'lu, Mosul 1234 - 1259

Curator: This coin, originating from Mosul, was created by Badr al-Din Lu'Lu'. Editor: It looks incredibly worn, doesn't it? I wonder how many hands it passed through. Curator: Coins are fascinating symbols, aren't they? On one side, a clear portrait, almost Roman in style, reminding us of the enduring influence of past empires. Editor: And on the other, the inscription. The wear speaks to material circulation, the bronze alloy itself shaped by the economic and social currents of its time. Curator: Exactly! The inscription serves as a cultural touchstone, connecting us to a specific moment in history. Editor: To think of the labor involved in minting each coin, the value it represented, and where those resources came from... Curator: It's a potent reminder of how symbols and materials intertwine to shape our understanding of the past. Editor: A coin is such a small object, but looking at it this way makes you think about the extensive networks that created and circulated it.