Follis of Herakleios, Constantinople 

Editor: This is a copper coin, a Follis of Herakleios, minted in Constantinople, likely during the Umayyad Caliphate. It's incredible to see the wear and tear of time. What stands out to you about its materiality and production? Curator: Consider the original labor invested in minting these coins, and how their materiality facilitated trade. The copper itself signifies access to resources, while the wear speaks to its circulation, literally embodying economic exchange and imperial power through its material existence and use. Editor: That's fascinating. So, the coin isn't just about its design, but its life as an object? Curator: Precisely. How the coin was produced, distributed, and used reflects social structures and economic systems of the time. Editor: I hadn’t considered that. Thanks, I am looking at coins in a new way!