What were byzantine coins called ?

From Constantinople to the shores of the Mediterranean, Byzantine coins circulated for over a thousand years, shaping trade and politics across three continents. The main Byzantine coin names were the nomisma (solidus) in gold, the miliaresion in silver, and the follis in bronze. Each tells a distinct story about the empire’s economy and its Christian faith. This article traces the full vocabulary of Byzantine coinage and answers the most common questions collectors and historians ask.

The nomisma: the gold heart of Byzantine currency

The solidus, a coin of remarkable stability

Introduced by Emperor Constantine I around 312 AD, the solidus, known in Greek as the nomisma, anchored the Byzantine monetary system for nearly ten centuries. Struck at 72 coins to the Roman pound, it weighed 4.5 grams at 24 carats, a standard maintained until the eleventh century. Its reliability made it the dominant trading currency across the Mediterranean, rivalled only later by the Arab dirham and the coins of Venice, Genoa, and Pisa.

Semissis and tremissis: fractional gold denominations

Theodosius I (379-395 AD) authorized two fractional gold coins: the semissis, worth half a solidus, and the tremissis, worth one third and weighing approximately 1.5 grams. Both were struck in Constantinople until the reign of Michael I (811-813) and in Syracuse until Basil I (867-886). These smaller pieces helped integrate gold into ordinary transactions rather than restricting it to official state payments.

Debasement and the hyperpyron

From the mid-eleventh century, political crises pushed emperors to reduce the gold content of the nomisma. Alexios I Komnenos reformed the coinage around 1092 by introducing the hyperpyron, meaning “highly refined” in Greek, as the new high-value standard. Its purity never fully equalled the original solidus. The hyperpyron remained the primary Byzantine gold denomination until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

Silver coins in the Byzantine monetary system

The silique, the early Byzantine silver coin

Silver played a secondary role in Byzantine coinage because its value fluctuated too regularly against gold. The silique, called keration in Greek, weighed approximately 2.24 grams and was nominally worth one twenty-fourth (1/24) of a solidus. This standard gave rise to the carat measure, as 24 siliques equalled the weight of one gold solidus. Struck from the fourth century onward, it progressively disappeared as the empire’s monetary focus remained on gold and bronze.

The hexagram under Heraclius

Emperor Heraclius (610-641 AD) introduced the hexagram in 615 to fund his wars against the Sasanian Empire. Weighing approximately 6.84 grams and worth one twelfth of a solidus, it circulated under his successor Constans II but disappeared during the reign of Constantine IV (668-685 AD). It remains one of the most prized pieces among collectors of ancient Byzantine silver.

The miliaresion and the revival of silver coinage

Under Leo III (717-741), a new silver coin called the miliaresion was introduced. Its name derives from the earlier Roman miliarense, which was originally struck at a rate where 1,000 silver coins equalled a pound of gold. Under Leo III, twelve miliaresia equalled one nomisma. This denomination revived regular imperial silver coinage after generations dominated by gold and bronze, and it circulated widely from the eighth to the eleventh century.

Bronze coins: everyday currency of the Byzantine Empire

The nummus and small daily transactions

At the base of the Byzantine monetary system sat the nummus, a tiny bronze coin measuring 8 to 10 millimetres and weighing just 0.56 grams. Its official value was one seven-thousand-two-hundredth of a solidus, though it traded at varying rates in practice. Essential for minor purchases, its very low face value made it impractical for larger commercial transactions.

The follis and Anastasius’s monetary reform

Emperor Anastasius (491-518) reformed bronze coinage by eliminating the single-nummus coin and introducing higher-value multiples. The primary new denomination was the follis, worth 40 nummi, alongside the semifollis (20 nummi) and the decanummium (10 nummi). Each was identified by a Greek numeral stamped on the reverse: M for 40, K for 20, I for 10, and E for 5. This reform gave bronze coinage a more practical role across the empire.

Anonymous follis and religious imagery

By the seventh century, only the 40-nummi follis remained in common use, though its size had shrunk considerably. From the tenth century, “anonymous” folles were issued without the emperor’s portrait, bearing instead the bust of Christ and the inscription XRISTUS BASILEU BASILE (“Christ, King of Kings”). This shift reflected the deepening religious identity of the Byzantine state during its later centuries.

Collecting Byzantine coins: value and what to look for

Why Byzantine coinage is accessible to collectors

Ancient Byzantine coinage is among the most affordable in the ancient coin market. Bronze follis pieces start at around $30 to $50, silver miliaresia range from $100 to $500, and gold solidi typically sell for $900 to $1,500 or more. Their relative abundance, the result of the empire’s long duration and prolific minting, makes them an attractive entry point for collectors of ancient currencies.

What determines the value of a Byzantine coin

The sharpness of the relief is the primary factor: a well-struck portrait consistently outranks a blurry design of the same type. The issuing emperor matters too. Coins of Constantine I, Justinian I, or Alexios I Komnenos attract greater interest than those of lesser-known rulers. Provenance and documented acquisition history further enhance value, as international standards increasingly require traceable records for ancient objects.

Frequently asked questions about Byzantine coins

Why are Byzantine coins so cheap?

Byzantine coins are relatively affordable because the empire minted them in enormous quantities over more than a thousand years. Bronze follis coins were struck by the millions, making them common on the collector market. Their lower prices reflect supply, not a lack of historical significance.

How much is a Byzantine coin worth?

Values range widely by metal and condition. Bronze pieces sell for $30 to $150, silver miliaresia for $100 to $500, and gold solidi from around $900 to over $2,000 for fine examples. Rare types or coins with exceptional portraits can command significantly higher prices at numismatic auctions.

What are old Greek coins called?

Ancient Greek coins are generally called drachms, with other denominations including the obol, the tetradrachm, and the stater. Byzantine coins are distinct from classical Greek coins: they belong to a later Christian empire with different monetary conventions, denominations, and imagery, though both traditions share roots in the Hellenistic world.

What was the Byzantine gold coin called?

The main Byzantine gold coin was called the solidus in Latin, or the nomisma in Greek. Both names refer to the same denomination introduced by Constantine I in the early fourth century. From the late eleventh century, it was progressively replaced by the hyperpyron, introduced under Alexios I Komnenos around 1092.

What is the difference between Byzantine and Roman coins?

The solidus was introduced during the Late Roman Empire by Diocletian and finalized by Constantine I to replace the debased aureus, before becoming the standard gold currency of the Byzantine era. However, Byzantine coins progressively adopted Greek inscriptions, Christian imagery (crosses, the bust of Christ, the Virgin Mary), and a formal frontal portrait style. Classical Roman coins used Latin, featured more naturalistic portraiture, and drew imagery from Roman mythology and civic life rather than Christian theology.

Further reading

• https://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantine_Coinage/
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/solidus-Byzantine-coin
• https://lsa.umich.edu/kelsey/exhibitions/special-exhibitions/big-object-spotlights/big-object-spotlight-3/coins.html