Byzantium



Please add updates or make corrections to the NumisWiki text version as appropriate.
Byzantium [Greek Byzantion], a capital city of Thrace, founded by Bysas, a general of the Megarensians. Constantine the Great made it the seat of the empire about AD 330, and after that it was named after him and is still called Constantinopolis or Constantinople. In AD 1453 it was captured by Mahomet II (when Constantine Palaeologus, the last emperor was slain), and it remains to this day the seat of the Turkish government [Istanbul, Turkey].

The coins of Byzantium were autonomous till the reign of Caligula, from which period they come into the Greek series, down to about the reign of Gallienus. Constantine the Great and his family caused coins to be struck at Byzantium, with Latin legends and types, and with the inscription CONSTANTINOPOILIS. See Banduri, and the Fam. Aug. Byzant. of Ducange.

Byzantium was one of the cities which declared for Pescennius Niger when he aspired to the empire on the death of Pertinax (AD 192). And "of all those who took |part| with this unfortunate warrior, none distignguished themselves so much as the Byzantines, who obstinately refused to submit till, after a three years ' siege, they were reduced to eating human flesh: it is only to know that Septimius Severus, that stranger to mercy, was the conqueror, and the result may be anticipated - all the fortifications and public edifaces were destroyed, the garrison massacred, and the inhabitants stripped and sold into slavery." Capt. Smyth, p 177

View whole page from the |Dictionary Of Roman Coins|