Coin of Herakleios c. 618 - 628

Editor: This is a coin of Herakleios by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyads. It feels incredibly old and weathered. What stories do you think it carries? Curator: This coin represents a fascinating cultural memory, doesn't it? Notice the layering of visual languages: The figure of Herakleios alludes to Byzantium, a continuation. The inscriptions, however, hint at a shift. Editor: A shift? Curator: Precisely. The shift towards a new power. It’s a palimpsest of symbols, reflecting both continuity and change. The very act of adapting a Byzantine coin is a statement, charged with symbolism. It makes you wonder, doesn't it, about the silent dialogue between civilizations. Editor: I never thought of a coin as a conversation before. Thank you.