How to Identify Byzantine Coins
Constantine the Great established the Byzantine Empire in 330, and it lasted until 1453. The empire has had a tremendous influence on Western culture. The Byzantine Empire is often seen as an extension of the Roman Empire. Long after the Western Roman Empire fell, the Eastern Roman Empire, in the form of the Byzantine Empire, flourished. For coin collectors, the empire's longevity means that a great number of Byzantine coins are still in existence. Coins have been found from Iceland all the way to Ceylon.
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Instructions
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Identify the style of coin. Two of the most common Byzantine coins are folles coins from the early days of the Byzantine Empire and scyphate or cup-shaped coins.
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Date the coin by identifying the emperor on it. The approximate date of the coin's production can be narrowed down by identifying it with the emperor it depicts. The Byzantine Empire had more than 80 emperors.
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Determine the mint where the coin was produced. Because the empire was vast and it was costly and dangerous to move large numbers of coins, coins were produced in several mints. The mint is usually noted on the coin as a three-letter abbreviation, such as "CON." Many gold coins include the mint mark "CONOB," with "CON" standing for the mint at Constantinople and "OB" to indicate the coin is pure gold.
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Tips & Warnings
Many counterfeit coins are in existence. Determining whether a coin is genuine can be difficult. Before purchasing any Byzantine coins, familiarize yourself with the coins of the era you are interested in, including the standard weights and styles of the coins of that era. Some obvious ways to spot fakes are to look for coins that look identical or coins that look to have been struck from the same die.
References
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