The coinage of the Byzantine Empire continued that of its more ancient predecessors and functioned as a convenient method of payment for goods and services, especially to soldiers and officials, and as a means for people to pay their taxes. Coins also continued to be the best way for a ruler to spread their image and remind their people who they owed their allegiance to. The star of the Byzantine purse was undoubtedly the gold solidus or nomisma. Introduced by Constantine I in the 4th century CE, it would reign supreme as the currency standard for 700 years, eventually to be replaced by the electrum hyperpyron from the 12th century CE.
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Definition
Timeline
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312 CEConstantine I introduces the gold nomisma (solidus) coin.
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491 CE - 518 CEByzantine emperor Anastasios I introduces the copper follis coin (288 are worth one gold nomisma).
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c. 691 CEByzantine emperor Justinian II mints the first coins to depict Jesus Christ.
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720 CE - 721 CEThe silver miliaresion coin is introduced in the Byzantine Empire by Leo III.
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797 CE - 802 CEEmpress Irene is the first Byzantine ruler to put an image of herself on both sides of her coinage.
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963 CE - 969 CEByzantine emperor Nikephoros II Phokas introduces the gold tetarteron coin (one-twelfth of a gold nomisma in value).
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1092 CEAlexios I Komnenos introduces the electrum hyperpyron coin (worth one-third of a gold nomisma).
