Double Dinar of Abu-Yusuf Ya'qub c. 12th century

Editor: This is a Double Dinar of Abu-Yusuf Ya'qub, a gleaming gold coin housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The inscriptions seem so carefully rendered. What symbolic weight do these images carry? Curator: Consider how the image, though small, broadcast immense authority. Gold itself is a powerful symbol, but the text, likely verses from the Quran and declarations of rule, are the true carriers of cultural memory. How would such an image shape the understanding of power and faith? Editor: It's amazing to think how such a small object held so much meaning. Curator: Indeed, it’s a potent reminder that images, regardless of scale, resonate through time and culture.