Dodecanummium of Herakleios, Alexandria 618 - 628

Curator: This is a Dodecanummium, a coin, minted in Alexandria during the reign of Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyad Caliphate. It's currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's striking, really. The verdigris patina that blankets it speaks to centuries of history. A tangible link to power dynamics in the ancient world. Curator: Indeed, the symbols pressed into the coin’s surface are fascinating. The imagery is a blend of pre-existing Byzantine iconography combined with Arabic script, reflecting the transitional period after the Islamic conquests. Editor: That blend is precisely what I find so compelling. This coin embodies cultural synthesis, the imposition of new power, and the negotiation of identity. It's a micro-narrative of a society in flux. Curator: The weight of 8.39 grams held so much economic power, yet now it is an artifact, resonating with layers of meaning far beyond its original purpose. Editor: It's a poignant reminder that objects outlive empires, and the stories they carry reshape our understanding of the past.