Byzantine
What were byzantine coins called ?
Byzantine coins, more than just a means of exchange, tell the tales of an empire that shone for over a thousand years. From their artistic design to their role in international trade, these coins offer a unique perspective on the complex history of the Byzantine Empire.
Foundations of Byzantine coinage
The history of Byzantine coinage begins with the solidus, introduced by Emperor Constantine I (r. 306 – 337) to finance his army; it replaced the aureus or gold denarius which had until then been the official currency of the empire.
Worth 1/72nd of a pound at the end of the 4th century, with a purity of 24 carats and weighing 4.5 g, it remained the pivot of the Byzantine monetary system for ten centuries and served for a long time as currency around the Mediterranean. until it was competed by the Arab silver dirham, then by the currencies of the Italian republics, Venice (sequin), Genoa (genovino) and Pisa.
CONSTANS II gold solidus (641-668 AD)
The gold solid, also known as the nomisma, became the centerpiece of the Byzantine economy, valued for its purity and stability.
ANASTATIUS I gold tremissis (491-518 AD)
Evolution of coins and their production
Over the centuries, Byzantine coins underwent various modifications. Emperors frequently adjusted the gold content of the nomismata to meet economic needs, sometimes causing inflation and instability. The minting of the nomisma was meticulously controlled by the state, ensuring its reliability and acceptance even beyond the borders of the Empire.
Silver coins
For a long time, silver only played a supporting role in the Byzantine monetary system, the value of this metal fluctuating too regularly in relation to gold.
The silique was a small Roman silver coin whose minting began in the 4th century CE9. Created during the reign of Constantine I the silique called keration (plural keratia) in the Byzantine Empire had a weight of 2.24 grams of silver, or half of a solidus of gold. The emperor Heraclius (610–641 AD) minted a silver coin, called a “hexagram”, minted in 615 to meet the needs of his war with the Sasanian Empire.
Weighing 6.84 g. it was worth 1/12 of a solidus, was used under his successor Constant II, but gradually disappeared from Constantine IV (668–685 AD).
Under Leo III (r. 717 – 741) a new silver coinage appeared called miliaresion because when it first appeared in the 4th century it was worth 1000 nummi (a small copper coin of the time).
CONSTANTINE IX AR Miliaresion (1042-1055 AD)
Bronze coins
At the end of the Roman Empire a new bronze coin measuring three centimeters in diameter appeared: the nummus (from the Latin meaning “coin”, pl. nummi).
It was a very small piece of bronze with a diameter of 8 to 10 mm, weighing 0.56 g. Its value was officially 1⁄7200 solidus in gold, but generally traded between 1⁄6000 and 1⁄1200013. Necessary for small transactions, its low value however made it of little use.
JUSTINIAN I AE nummus (552 AD)
Also the emperor Anastasius, during his monetary reform interrupted the circulation of coins of one nummus and introduced multiples, with denominations of forty nummi (also known as follis), twenty nummi (semifollis) and ten nummi (decanummium, δεκανούμμιον), their value being represented by the Greek numeral: M = 40; K = 20; I = 10; E = 514.
TIBERIUS II Constantine Æ 40 Nummi (578-582)
In the 7th century the 40 nummi or follis coin was the only one still in existence, but its volume had been considerably reduced. Justinian II (685-695 and 705-711 AD) tried to bring its volume back to what it was under Justinian I, but soon it decreased again. Until then, the follis bore the portrait of the emperor on the obverse. From the 10th century, “anonymous” follis were struck which bore the bust of Christ with the words XRISTUS/BASILEU/BASILE (Christ, King of kings, sell below).
Anonymous follis (11th century)
Imagery and symbolism
Byzantine coinage was rich in symbolism. Coins often depicted religious figures such as Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary, as well as emperors and empresses. This imagery was not only an assertion of royal legitimacy but also a means of propagating their image and message. Iconography evolved over the years, reflecting the beliefs and cultural influences of the time.
ROMANOS III Gold Histamenon Nomisma (1028-1034 AD) depicting on the reverse Romanos blessed by the Virgin Mary
Byzantine coinage and international trade
The Byzantine nomisma was highly esteemed beyond the borders of the Empire. Its reliability led to widespread use in international trade, especially in Mediterranean regions and beyond. This universal trust in Byzantine coinage underscores its importance in the global economy of the time.
Byzantine coins, much more than mere tools of trade, were symbols of power, faith, and art. Their study offers valuable insights into the Byzantine Empire, its rulers, its religion, and its role in world economic history.
