Coin of Herakleios c. 613 - 616

Curator: Up next, we have a copper coin created during the Umayyad dynasty under Abd-al-Malik. Though it's referred to as the Coin of Herakleios, these coins were modeled after Byzantine currency during a period of enormous cultural and political transition. Editor: What strikes me is the density of the markings against the raw, almost crude shape of the coin itself. The visible wear creates a surprisingly appealing texture. Curator: It's fascinating how these coins, initially mimicking Byzantine prototypes, were gradually Arabized, reflecting the evolving identity of the Umayyad Caliphate. Editor: Absolutely. You can see the abstraction of the figural imagery, moving towards a more geometric, symbolic visual language. Almost like a deliberate act of erasure or re-interpretation. Curator: Indeed. It underscores the shifting power dynamics and the deliberate effort to establish a new cultural and political order through currency. Editor: A small object, but it carries so much weight, doesn't it? Curator: Exactly—a testament to how even the most quotidian objects can reveal profound historical narratives.