Coin of Herakleios c. 626 - 629

Curator: Here we have a gold coin, created by Abd-al-Malik of the Umayyad Dynasty, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's remarkable how such a small object manages to evoke so much power and history. The gold practically glows. Curator: Indeed. One side features what appear to be two figures, likely rulers, their faces rendered in a stylized, almost Byzantine manner. The other presents a cross, a potent symbol adapted and recontextualized. Editor: The cross, of course, speaks volumes about cultural exchange and appropriation. The weight of that symbol, transformed within a new context, is fascinating. Curator: Exactly. And if we examine the incised details, we can decode the artistry involved in rendering form on such a diminutive scale. The composition also has a remarkable harmony and balance. Editor: It makes one think about the silent dialogue this coin initiated between empires. To look at it is to touch something very old, layered with narratives of conquest and belief. Curator: Precisely. It’s fascinating to consider how this coin's visual language blends different cultural motifs. Editor: Yes, a powerful intersection of faith and authority.