Coin of Herakleios c. 629 - 631

Curator: Here we have a gold coin, “Coin of Herakleios," attributed to Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyad Dynasty, a little piece of history weighing only 4.45 grams. Editor: It feels weighty somehow, like staring into a shimmering past. The color alone evokes warmth and power, doesn’t it? Curator: Indeed. The imagery includes figures and what appears to be a cross atop a stepped base, all executed with striking precision despite the coin's diminutive size. Editor: I find myself drawn to the wear and tear, the subtle flattening of details. It whispers of journeys, of hands exchanging it, a tangible connection to a bygone era. It's a humble, shining artifact. Curator: Absolutely, and thinking about the symbolic interplay of Byzantine and early Islamic imagery provides a fascinating look into cultural exchange at the time. Editor: It truly is a small object holding such large stories.