Coin of Herakleios c. 629 - 630

Editor: Here we have a gold coin, titled "Coin of Herakleios", by Abd-al-Malik. The imagery is striking! What do you think this coin represents? Curator: This coin is fascinating because it marks a pivotal moment of cultural negotiation. Abd-al-Malik, an Umayyad caliph, initially adopted Byzantine coinage. The Christian symbols, like the cross, were politically charged. Editor: So, keeping the cross was a deliberate choice? Curator: Exactly! But eventually, Abd-al-Malik replaced them with Islamic symbols. This coin represents a moment of transition, a visual dialogue about power and religious identity in a changing world. What does that suggest to you? Editor: It's a reminder that even the smallest objects can tell big stories about cultural shifts.