Introduction
The History of Byzantine Coinage
Mints
Uses of Coins
Christianization of the Coin
Representation of Christ
Representation of the Virgin
subjects
The Basilicon Episode (1304-ca. 1367)

In 1304 Andronicus II introduced a flat coin of pure silver known as the basilicon, copied from the silver ducat of Venice (photos near right). For half a century this circulated side by side with concave coins of base gold and with debased copper/silver coins (billon) that were effectively copper.

The Stavraton Period (1367-1453)

In 1367 a heavy silver coin, the stavraton (photo below), replaced the gold hyperpyron which was by then no longer struck. This final stage of the coinage, with only heavy silver coins, light copper coins, and no gold coins at all, thus formed a complete antithesis to the coinage of earlier centuries when gold coins were predominant. This dramatic shift in the coinage, which was partly due to the demand for gold in the West, reflected the serious economic decline of the final centuries of the Byzantine Empire.

Stavraton of John V (1341-91)
Constantinople, 1367-1376
Back to Top or Go to Next Page
Solidus of Constantine VII and Romanus I