Solidus of Herakleios c. 613 - 616

Curator: This small, golden coin is a Solidus of Herakleios, struck by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyad Caliphate. Editor: It feels charged with history, doesn't it? The patina, the worn edges… it whispers of empires and shifts in power. Curator: Exactly. The imagery is fascinating. On one side, we see Herakleios and his son, but the reverse depicts a cross—symbols loaded with religious meaning in the context of the emerging Islamic world. Editor: The cross, a potent symbol of Christian victory, juxtaposed with the rule of Abd-al-Malik. It speaks of appropriation, adaptation, and perhaps even defiance, all within the space of this tiny coin. Curator: Perhaps. Or maybe it was a practical decision. A familiar image used to ease the transition for the local population. Who knows what was the actual intent? Anyway, it's a tangible link to a complex and pivotal moment in history. Editor: Absolutely. Holding this, one can almost feel the weight of that transition—the echoes of faith and power resonating across centuries.