100 Byzantine Coins: A Glimpse into the Empire’s Rich History

The top 100 Byzantine coins from a rich history of art, religion, and economic power. As a continuation of the Roman monetary system, Byzantine coins underwent numerous transformations, showcasing emperors, religious imagery, and inscriptions in Greek or Latin. This section highlights notable coins minted during this era, categorized by their metal types and historical significance.

The artistry of top 100 Byzantine coins reached its zenith during the middle period (8th to 12th centuries CE), with intricate designs often featuring Christ, the Virgin Mary, and imperial portraits. These images conveyed the emperor’s divine authority, reinforcing the connection between church and state.

Each Byzantine emperor left a distinct mark on their coinage, whether through innovative designs or changes in monetary standards. Coins not only reflect the economic conditions of their time but also provide a window into the political and religious priorities of the Byzantine Empire.

The diversity of metals used in Byzantine coinage—gold, silver, and bronze—served different purposes. Gold coins, such as the solidus and hyperpyron, were primarily used in international trade and imperial payments. Silver and bronze coins circulated widely among common citizens, facilitating everyday transactions.

Here is the top 100 Byzantine coins from all the times:

Top 25 of 100 Byzantine Coins From Period (491–610 CE)

1–25 Byzantine Coins

1. Constantine I Solidus
   • Metal: Gold.
   • Legend: CONSTANTINUS MAX AVG.
   • Mint: Constantinople.
   • Year: 313–337 CE.

 

• 2. Justinian I Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: DN IVSTINIANUS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 527–565 CE.

 

• 3. Heraclius Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: DN HERACLIUS ET HERACLIUS CON AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 610–641 CE.

 

• 4. Leo III and Constantine V Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: LEON S CONSTANTINUS AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 741–775 CE.

 

• 5. Basil I Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: BASILIOS CONSTANTINOS AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 867–886 CE.

 

• 6. Theophilos Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: THEOFILOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 829–842 CE.

 

• 7. Irene Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: EIRHNIA AVGVSTA.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 797–802 CE.

 

• 8. Michael III and Theodora Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: MIKAHL ET THEODORA AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 842–867 CE.

 

• 9. Romanos I and Constantine VII Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: ROMANOS ET CONSTANTINOS AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 920–944 CE.

 

• 10. John I Tzimiskes Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: IWANNIS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 969–976 CE.

11. Nikephoros II Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: NIKHFOROS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 963–969 CE.

12. Constantine VIII Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: CONSTANTINOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1025–1028 CE.

13. Zoe and Theodora Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: ZOH ET THEODORA AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1042 CE.

14. Michael IV Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: MICHAEL EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1034–1041 CE.

15. Isaac I Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: ISAAC EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1057–1059 CE.

16. Constantine IX Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: CONSTANTINOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: Circa 1045 CE.

17. Romanos IV Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: ROMANOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1068–1071 CE.

18. Nicephorus III Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: NIKHFOROS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1078–1081 CE.

19. Alexios I Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: ALEXIOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1092–1118 CE.

20. John II Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: IWANNIS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1118–1143 CE.

21. Manuel I Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: MANOYHL EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1143–1180 CE.

22. Isaac II Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: ISAAC EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1185–1195 CE.

23. Alexios III Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: ALEXIOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1195–1203 CE.

24. Theodore I Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: THEODOROS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Nicaea.
• Year: 1205–1222 CE.

25. Michael VIII Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: MIXAHL EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1261–1282 CE.

From 26–50 top Byzantine Coins

26. Theophilus Miliaresion

• Metal: Silver.
• Legend: THEOFILOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 829–842 CE.

27. Justinian II Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: DN IUSTINIANUS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 685–695 CE, 705–711 CE.

28. Heraclius Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: HERACLIUS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 610–641 CE.

29. Basil II and Constantine VIII Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: BASILIOS ET CONSTANTINOS AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 976–1025 CE.

30. Romanos I Miliaresion

• Metal: Silver.
• Legend: ROMANOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 920–944 CE.

31. Alexios III Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: ALEXIOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1195–1203 CE.

32. Theophilus Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: THEOFILOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 829–842 CE.

33. Michael III Miliaresion

• Metal: Silver.
• Legend: MICHAEL EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 842–867 CE.

34. Constantine VII Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: CONSTANTINOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 913–959 CE.

35. Constantine XI Stavraton

• Metal: Silver.
• Legend: CONSTANTINOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1448–1453 CE.

36. Justin II Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: DN IVSTINVS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 565–578 CE.

37. Maurice Tiberius Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: DN MAVRIC TIBER PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 582–602 CE.

38. Phocas Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: DN FOCAS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 602–610 CE.

39. Anastasius I Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: DN ANASTASIVS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 491–518 CE.

40. Zeno Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: DN ZENO PERP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 474–491 CE.

41. Leo I Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: DN LEO PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 457–474 CE.

42. Michael VIII Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: MIXAHL EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1261–1282 CE.

43. Theophilos Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: THEOFILOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 829–842 CE.

44. Basil I and Constantine Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: BASILIOS CONSTANTINOS AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 867–886 CE.

45. John II Miliaresion

• Metal: Silver.
• Legend: IWANNIS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1118–1143 CE.

46–75 Byzantine Coins

46. Andronikos I Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: ANDRONIKOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1183–1185 CE.

47. Constantine X Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: CONSTANTINOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1059–1067 CE.

48. Michael VII Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: MICHAEL EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1071–1078 CE.

49. Romanos II Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: ROMANOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 959–963 CE.

50. Leo VI Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: LEON EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 886–912 CE.

51. Constantine IV Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: CONSTANTINOS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 668–685 CE.

52. Michael I Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: MICHAEL EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 811–813 CE.

53. Alexios IV Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: ALEXIOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1203–1204 CE.

54. Theodosius II Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: DN THEODOSIVS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 402–450 CE.

55. Arcadius Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: DN ARCADIVS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 395–408 CE.

56. Tiberius II Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: DN TIBERIVS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 578–582 CE.

57. Justin I Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: DN IVSTINUS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 518–527 CE.

58. Leo III Miliaresion

• Metal: Silver.
• Legend: LEON EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 717–741 CE.

59. Constantine V Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: CONSTANTINOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 741–775 CE.

60. Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: DN HERACLIUS ET HERACLIUS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 629–641 CE.

61. Anastasius I Tremissis

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: DN ANASTASIVS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 491–518 CE.

62. Heraclius Constantine Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: HERACLIUS CONSTANTINOS AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 638–641 CE.

63. Basil I Miliaresion

• Metal: Silver.
• Legend: BASILIOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 867–886 CE.

64. John V Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: IWANNIS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1341–1391 CE.

65. Constantine IX Miliaresion

• Metal: Silver.
• Legend: CONSTANTINOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: Circa 1050 CE.

66. Maurice Tiberius Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: DN MAVRIC TIB PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 582–602 CE.

67. Leo VI Miliaresion

• Metal: Silver.
• Legend: LEON EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 886–912 CE.

68. Romanos III Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: ROMANOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1028–1034 CE.

69. Nicephorus II Miliaresion

• Metal: Silver.
• Legend: NIKHFOROS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 963–969 CE.

70. John I Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: IWANNIS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 969–976 CE.

71. Isaac II Angelos Hyperpyron

• Legend: ISAAC EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1185–1195 CE.

72. John III Vatatzes Tetarteron

• Legend: IWANNIS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Nicaea.
• Year: 1222–1254 CE.

73. Theodore I Laskaris Hyperpyron

• Legend: THEODOROS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Nicaea.
• Year: 1205–1222 CE.

74. Michael VIII Palaiologos Tetarteron

• Legend: MIXAHL EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1261–1282 CE.

75. Andronikos II and Michael IX Hyperpyron

• Legend: ANDRONIKOS ET MIXAHL BASILEIS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: Circa 1300 CE.

76–100 Byzantine Coins

76. Michael VI Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: MICHAEL EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1056–1057 CE.

77. John VI Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: IWANNIS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1347–1354 CE.

78. Isaac II Miliaresion

• Metal: Silver.
• Legend: ISAAKIOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1185–1195 CE.

79. Alexios I Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: ALEXIOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1081–1118 CE.

80. Theodora Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: THEODORA AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1042 CE.

81. Romanos IV Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: ROMANOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1068–1071 CE.

82. Nicephorus III Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: NIKHFOROS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1078–1081 CE.

83. Zoe and Theodora Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: ZWH KAI THEODORA AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1042 CE.

84. Constantine VII Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: CONSTANTINOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 913–959 CE.

85. Manuel I Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: MANOUHL EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1143–1180 CE.

86. Theophilos Histamenon

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: THEOFILOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 829–842 CE.

87. Justin II Tremissis

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: DN IVSTINVS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 565–578 CE.

88. Michael IV Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: MICHAEL EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1034–1041 CE.
•  

89. John III Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: IWANNIS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1222–1254 CE.

90. Isaac II Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: ISAAKIOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1185–1195 CE.

91. Theodosius I Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: DN THEODOSIVS PP AVG.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 379–395 CE.

92. Basil II Miliaresion

• Metal: Silver.
• Legend: BASILIOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 976–1025 CE.

93. Leo III Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: LEON EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 717–741 CE.

94. Michael V Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: MICHAEL EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1041–1042 CE.

95. John V Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: IWANNIS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1341–1391 CE.

96. Constantine XI Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: CONSTANTINOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1448–1453 CE.

97. Manuel II Hyperpyron

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: MANOUHL EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1391–1425 CE.

98. Nikephoros II Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: NIKHFOROS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 963–969 CE.

99. Basil I Solidus

• Metal: Gold.
• Legend: BASILIOS EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 867–886 CE.

100. Michael VIII Follis

• Metal: Bronze.
• Legend: MIXAHL EN XRISTO BASILEUS.
• Mint: Constantinople.
• Year: 1261–1282 CE.

So, this is my list of top 100 Byzantine coins from my experience in years. I hope you like this list and if you have a nother list, you can write in the comments below.