Coin of Herakleios c. 610 - 613

Editor: Here we have a gold coin of Herakleios, made by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyads. It looks like there is a portrait on one side and a cross on the other. What can you tell me about its history? Curator: It's fascinating how coins become sites of cultural negotiation. The Umayyads initially imitated Byzantine coinage, but gradually asserted their own identity. Do you notice the similarities in imagery and script on this coin, and can you see the differences? Editor: I see both a cross and Arabic script. It seems like the coin is deliberately referencing and then subverting existing power structures. Curator: Precisely. This coin isn't just currency; it's a statement about power, identity, and cultural transformation in a changing world. Editor: I never thought about coins as carrying so much political weight. Curator: Examining the socio-political context transforms our understanding of this artifact.