Coin of Herakleios c. 627 - 628

Curator: The Harvard Art Museums hold this fascinating gold coin produced by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyads. It's referred to as a Coin of Herakleios. Editor: It's striking how much visual information is packed into such a small object! The intricate patterns and figures feel weighty, almost imposing. Curator: These coins are examples of early Islamic coinage adapting Byzantine prototypes. The symbolic power of currency was not lost on Abd-al-Malik. Editor: Exactly. We see a deliberate visual assertion here. Appropriation and adaptation served as tools to legitimize new power structures. It makes me consider how identity and authority are so often mediated through material culture. Curator: Indeed. The coin is a testament to the evolving political landscape and the Umayyad dynasty's shrewd strategies for consolidating power. Editor: Right, the coin's a compelling reminder that even mundane objects can be powerful agents of cultural change and social commentary.