Byzantine Coins

The coinage of the Byzantine Empire

Following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, the monetary reform of Emperor Anastasius I in 498 AD inaugurated the Byzantine monetary system, the enduring continuation of Roman numismatic tradition in the East. This framework was anchored by the bronze nummus and the legendary gold solidus.

Byzantine coinage maintained deep institutional continuity with Late Roman practices while pioneering distinct Christian iconographical traditions. Naturalistic Roman portraits gave way to stylized imperial majesty, with Christ, the Virgin, and Christian crosses taking prominence on coin designs.

The solidus (or nomisma), preserved at 24 carats (ca. 4.5 g), served for over seven centuries as the international reserve currency of the Mediterranean—often hailed as the 'dollar of the Middle Ages.' Alongside it flourished a diverse bronze currency headed by the follis.

Across eleven centuries, the Byzantine empire developed numerous denominations in response to shifting economic fortunes, including the miliarense, siliqua, hexagram, tetarteron, histamenon, scyphate hyperpyron, basilikon, and assarion.

Nummus

The nummus was a minute bronze piece that formed the basic accounting fractional unit of the reformed Byzantine bronze currency.

Follis

The follis, valued at 40 nummi, was the most recognizable Byzantine bronze denomination, famously marked on the reverse with the large Greek numeral M.

Solidus

The solidus stood as the undisputed master coin of the Byzantine world, minted in pure gold to maintain trust in state finances and imperial trade.

Siliqua

The siliqua continued in use in the early Byzantine centuries as a silver unit, before giving way to the miliarense and hexagram.