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Byzantine Gold Coin (solidus)

Type Object Region Byzantine Time c. 309–500

The solidus was a high-purity gold coin created by Constantine the Great in the early 4th century, weighing about 4.…

Timeline

  1. c. 309–350Constantinople · TurkeyConstantine the Great carried out a currency reform, replacing debased old coins with the high-purity solidus, establishing a stable gold coin system that supported construction of the new capital and unified imperial finances.
  2. c. 350–450Eastern Mediterranean · MediterraneanAfter the empire's division in 395, the Eastern Roman solidus became the preferred hard currency of Mediterranean trade, standing alongside Sasanian silver and Indian gold coins, widely used for tribute, military pay, and diplomatic gifts.
  3. c. 450–500Byzantine Empire · ByzantineFrom the late 5th to early 6th century, the solidus's purity and weight standards were further consolidated, becoming the core medium of Byzantine reconquest and Silk Road trade settlement, influencing the later Byzantine nomisma tradition.

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