Coin of Herakleios c. 636 - 638

Editor: This is a gold coin of Herakleios, struck by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyads. It's so small, yet so detailed! What does this coin tell us about the means of production during this era? Curator: The materiality speaks volumes. Gold signifies wealth and power, but its sourcing and processing involved exploitative labor. Abd-al-Malik’s repurposing of Byzantine coinage challenges established power structures, questioning traditional art boundaries through economic means. Notice how the imagery itself becomes a contested site of production and value. Editor: So, the coin is more than just currency; it is a statement? Curator: Precisely! It's a material assertion of dominance and an early form of economic warfare through controlling symbolic representation and, crucially, its tangible form. Editor: I see now how something so small reflects such large power dynamics!