Coin of Herakleios c. 624 - 625

Editor: Here we have "Coin of Herakleios" by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyads. It’s a small, gold coin. I am fascinated by how a tiny object like this could carry so much weight, both literally in gold, and figuratively. What do you find most compelling about it? Curator: The coin is a fascinating example of the politics of imagery. Its original Byzantine iconography, adapted by the Umayyads, illustrates a cultural shift. How does appropriating an existing visual language serve a new regime? Editor: It's a way of asserting dominance, perhaps? Like saying, "We're in charge now, but we'll use your symbols to ease the transition." Curator: Precisely. The coin visually mediates power. What does it tell us about early Islamic conceptions of authority and representation? Editor: I guess it shows they were pragmatic, willing to adapt existing systems to their own ends. Curator: Exactly! It highlights how art and everyday objects like currency are deeply embedded in political and social history. Editor: I hadn’t thought about coins in quite that way before. Thanks!