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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Byzantine Coins| ▸ |Byzantine Gold||View Options:  |  |  |   

Byzantine Gold Coins

Constantine the Great moved the capital of the Roman Empire to the former Byzantium in Thrace and renamed it Constantinopolis, present day Istanbul, Turkey. Numismatists, for convenience, have arbitrarily categorized coins from Anastasius I and after as Byzantine coins. Numismatists use Anastasius as the beginning of Byzantine because he dramatically reformed the bronze coinage. A significant minority of numismatists pick an earlier time and ruler, often Constantine the Great, as the dividing time between the Roman and Byzantine empires, because most coins were issued from Constantinople, or since it became the seat of government. Although the citizens generally spoke Greek, they considered themselves Roman for the entire Byzantine period, making our division of the empire an entirely modern convention.

Byzantine Empire, Basil I the Macedonian & Constantine, 10 February 868 - 3 September 879 A.D.

|Basil| |I|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Basil| |I| |the| |Macedonian| |&| |Constantine,| |10| |February| |868| |-| |3| |September| |879| |A.D.||solidus|
Basil's favorite son, Constantine, depicted on this coin died 3 September 879. His death embittered Basil's last years.
SH52914. Gold solidus, DOC III-2 2c; BMC 2-4; Tolstoi pl. 72 nos. 3-4; Ratto 1858; Morrisson BnF 4-7; SBCV 1704, VF, weight 4.380 g, maximum diameter 19.9 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 868 - 879 A.D.; obverse IhS XPS REX REGNANTIUM *, Christ seated facing on lyre-backed throne, wearing nimbus cruciger, tunic and himation, right raised in blessing, Gospels in left; reverse bASILIOS ET COnSTAnT AUGG b, facing crowned busts of Basil I, with short beard in loros (on left), and Constantine, beardless in chlamys, both hold a long patriarchal cross between them; very scarce; SOLD


Anastasius, 11 April 491 - 1 July 518 A.D.

|Anastasius| |I|, |Anastasius,| |11| |April| |491| |-| |1| |July| |518| |A.D.||solidus|
"Although historians often date the start of the Byzantine Empire at either the dedication of Constantinople (330 AD - making Constantine I the first Byzantine Emperor), the split of the Roman Empire at the death of Theodosius I (395 AD - making Arcadius the first Byzantine Emperor), or even at the fall of the western Roman Empire (476 AD - making Zeno the first Byzantine Emperor), numismatically the break is clearly in the reign of Anastasius, specifically at his previously mentioned coinage reform of 498. That reform was a radical re-structuring of the bronze coinage, and a sharp departure from previous Roman designs. Although the pre- and post-reform silver and gold are indistinguishable, the vast bulk of the coinage, what the 'man-in-the-street' dealt with, was clearly symbolic of a new beginning, and thus Moneta ends its coverage of Roman coinage with Anastasius." - Moneta Historical Reference
SH16824. Gold solidus, SBCV 3, DOC I 3i, EF, weight 4.481 g, maximum diameter 20.9 mm, die axis 225o, 10th officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, c. 491 - 498 A.D.; obverse D N ANASTA-SIVS P P AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, helmet with plume, trefoil ornament and diadem, pellets on cuirass, spear in right hand and behind head, shield on left arm ornamented with mounted cavalryman right attacking prostrate enemy; reverse VICTORIA AVGGG I (victory of the three emperors, 10th officina), Victoria standing left, long jeweled cross in right, star right, CONOB in exergue; mirror luster with some light scratches; SOLD


Constantine IV Pogonatus, 15 July 668 - 10 July 685 A.D.

|Constantine| |IV|, |Constantine| |IV| |Pogonatus,| |15| |July| |668| |-| |10| |July| |685| |A.D.||solidus|
Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear.
SH19039. Gold solidus, cf. SBCV 1154, DOC II 8, Hahn MIB 7, gEF, weight 4.308 g, maximum diameter 18.5 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, obverse d N I-A-NUS P (sic), cuirassed bust facing, holds spear and shield; reverse VICTOA AVGU CONOB, cross potent on three steps between Heraclius (left) and Tiberius, each wears crown and chlamys and holds globus cruciger; from the Woolslayer Collection; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Tiberius II Constantine, 26 September 578 - 14 August 582 A.D.

|Tiberius| |II|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Tiberius| |II| |Constantine,| |26| |September| |578| |-| |14| |August| |582| |A.D.||light| |weight| |solidus|
Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear.
SH17792. Gold light weight solidus, SBCV 446; DOC I 38, gVF, weight 4.060 g, maximum diameter 20.2 mm, die axis 180o, Theoupolis-Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, c. 579 - 582 A.D.; obverse dM Tib COS-TANT PP AVI, crowned and cuirassed bust facing, globus cruciger in left, shield in right; reverse VICTORI-A AVCC ΘS, cross potent on four steps, [O]B * in exergue; from the Woolslayer Collection; rare; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Constantine IV Pogonatus, 15 July 668 - 10 July 685 A.D.

|Constantine| |IV|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Constantine| |IV| |Pogonatus,| |15| |July| |668| |-| |10| |July| |685| |A.D.||solidus|
SH26634. Gold solidus, SBCV 1154, gVF, light graffiti in fields, weight 4.311 g, maximum diameter 19.5 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, obverse d N A-NUS P (sic), cuirassed bust facing, holds spear and shield decorated with horseman; reverse VICTOA AVGU A CONOB, cross potent on three steps between Heraclius (left) and Tiberius, each wears crown and chlamys and holds globus cruciger; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Tiberius II Constantine, 26 September 578 - 14 August 582 A.D.

|Tiberius| |II|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Tiberius| |II| |Constantine,| |26| |September| |578| |-| |14| |August| |582| |A.D.||solidus|
 
SH18997. Gold solidus, SBCV 422, DOC I 4i, Berk 76, gVF, weight 4.381 g, maximum diameter 22.6 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, obverse D M Tib CONS-TANT PP AVI, crowned and cuirassed bust facing, globus cruciger in left, shield in right; reverse VICTORI-A AVCC Θ CONOB, cross potent atop four steps; from the Woolslayer Collection; scarce; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Romanus I and Christopher, 921 - 931 A.D.

|Christopher|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Romanus| |I| |and| |Christopher,| |921| |-| |931| |A.D.||solidus|
The throne depicted on the obverse is also depicted in the Narthex Mosaic, at Hagia Sophia, Constantinople, from the late 9th or early 10th century A.D.
SH04766. Gold solidus, DOC III-2 7; Berk 276; SBCV 1745, EF+, weight 4.36 g, maximum diameter 20.9 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 921 - 931 A.D.; obverse +IhS XPS REX REGNANTInm, Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium and raising right in benediction, holding gospels in left hand, the throne has a lyre back and is ornamented with pearls; reverse ROmAn Et XRISTOFO AYGGb (or similar), facing busts of Romanus I, with short beard on left, and Christopher (his son-in-law), beardless on right, Romanus wears loros, Christopher wears chlamys, and they hold a long patriarchal cross between them; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Heraclius & Heraclius Constantine, 23 January 613 - 11 January 641 A.D.

|Heraclius| |Constantine|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Heraclius| |&| |Heraclius| |Constantine,| |23| |January| |613| |-| |11| |January| |641| |A.D.||solidus|
In 632, Heraclonas, Heraclius younger son, was designated Caesar and added to the coinage. Heraclonas was seven years old. The Heraclian monogram on the reverse replaces the more typical obverse inscription.
SH70051. Gold solidus, Wroth BMC 76; Tolstoi 410; DOC II-1 44f (no examples in the collection, refs Wroth); SBCV 770; Hahn MIB 53; Sommer 11.35; Morrisson BnF -, aEF, luster, tight flan, graffiti on obverse and reverse, weight 4.336 g, maximum diameter 19.3 mm, die axis 180o, 8th officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 639(?) - 641; obverse Heraclius in center taller with mustache, long beard; standing with Heraclius Constantine on right, Heraclonas on left, sons beardless and equal height, all wear crown, chlamys and tablion ornamented with pellets, and hold globus cruciger in right; reverse VICTORIA AVGu H (victory of the Emperor, 8th officina), cross potent on three steps, Heraclian monogram left, E right, CONOB in exergue; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Michael VIII Palaeologus, 15 August 1261 - 11 December 1282

|Michael| |VIII|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Michael| |VIII| |Palaeologus,| |15| |August| |1261| |-| |11| |December| |1282||hyperpyron|
Michael VIII was regent for and later co-emperor with the Nicaean Emperor John IV. He defeated the Latin emperor Baldwin II, captured Constantinople and restored the empire. His superb diplomatic skills balanced his enemies against each other. He founded the last great Byzantine dynasty.
SH70964. Gold hyperpyron, Bendall PCPC 4.4 (sigla 38), DOC V 14, Lianta 488 ff. var. (sigla), Grierson 1288, Sommer 77.1, SBCV 2242, EF, scyphate, well struck face of the Virgin, flat areas as usual, weight 4.141 g, maximum diameter 27.6 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 15 Aug 1261 - 11 Dec 1282; obverse Nimbate half-length facing figure of the Virgin Mary orans within city walls, six towers on walls; sigla A - K across fields; reverse X MH ΔEΠTI (or similar, MH ligate) downward on left, XC / Π/ΛA (or similar) on right, Archangel Michael standing facing, on left, behind Michael VII kneeling facing, presents Michael VIII to Christ, on right, seated left on high throne, scroll in right, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) flanking Christ's head; ex Baldwin's auction A210 (5 Jun 2010), lot 47; very scarce; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Michael VIII Palaeologus, 15 August 1261 - 11 December 1282

|Michael| |VIII|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Michael| |VIII| |Palaeologus,| |15| |August| |1261| |-| |11| |December| |1282||hyperpyron|
Michael VIII was regent for and later co-emperor with the Nicaean Emperor John IV. He defeated the Latin emperor Baldwin II, captured Constantinople and restored the empire. His superb diplomatic skills balanced his enemies against each other. He founded the last great Byzantine dynasty.
SH86353. Gold hyperpyron, Bendall PCPC 4.4 (sigla 38), DOC V 14, Lianta 488 - 493 var. (sigla), Grierson 1288, Sommer 77.1, SBCV 2242, VF, scyphate, not fully struck and double as typical for the type, marks and scratches, weight 4.207 g, maximum diameter 28.7 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 15 Aug 1261 - 11 Dec 1282; obverse Nimbate half-length facing figure of the Virgin Mary orans within city walls, M - Θ(?) flanking nimbus, six towers on walls; sigla A - K across fields; reverse ...X/M...on left, OΠ/A... on right (abbreviated and blundered Greek for Michael Despot), Archangel Michael standing facing, on left, behind Michael VII kneeling facing, presents Michael VIII to Christ, on right, seated left on high throne, scroll in right, HT ligature (siglon?) above center, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) flanking Christ's head; very scarce; SOLD




  



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REFERENCES

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Catalog current as of Thursday, March 28, 2024.
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