The main elements of the complex monetary system of the late Roman Empire, which suffered a partial collapse in the 5th century, were revived by Emperor Anastasius I (491–518) in 498. The new system involved three denominations of gold (the solidus [photos previous page] and its half and third) and five of copper (the follis, worth 40 nummi [photos near right], and its fractions down to a nummus). In the late 6th century and throughout the 7th, the weights of the copper coins were repeatedly reduced; after the 6th century, the single nummus, by then a tiny copper coin valued at 11,520 to the solidus, ceased to be struck. Although there was no significant use of silver in the 6th century, a new silver coin, the hexagram, was created in 615 (photos below) to provide a unit between the tremissis (one-third solidus) and the copper follis. Hexagram of Heraclius (610-41) Constantinople, 615-38