Coin of Herakleios c. 632 - 635

Editor: So, this is a gold coin of Herakleios by Abd-al-Malik, and it's housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. The detail is striking given its size. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Let's consider this coin's materiality. Gold, of course, signifies wealth and power. But who controlled the gold mines, and how was the metal extracted and processed? These are critical questions. Editor: I never thought about the mines. How does that relate to the imagery? Curator: The imagery, initially Christian, was adapted by Abd-al-Malik. This speaks to evolving power structures and the labor involved in maintaining those structures. Who benefited from this shift in power? Editor: That's a perspective shift I hadn't considered. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Examining the material processes opens up a richer understanding of history beyond just the faces on the coin.