2020-10-21
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Golden solid from Constantinople
World money of the 1st Millennium ad
The Golden solid appeared in circulation during the reign of the first Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337 ad), replacing the Roman Golden aureus. Minted solid on the foot of 72 coins from the Roman pound weighing 24 carats - it turned out 4.5 grams of 900-proof gold.
The Byzantine coinage differed from the ancient Roman one in some features.
images of emperors on coins are more likely to resemble not a portrait of a specific person, but a sketch of his image – a kind of icon, when writing which did not strive to exactly match the original.
the emperors of Byzantium were usually depicted not in profile, but in full face.
Before 602 ad, the rulers of Byzantium were minted on coins without a beard, after 602, the emperors, starting with Phocas, had a beard.
During the entire history of the Byzantine Empire, from 324 ad to 1453 ad, the country was ruled by 88 emperors, both men and women. They were far from equal in importance, and the Emperor Heraclius I is one of the most outstanding personalities.
Heraclius became the head of Byzantium after the overthrow of the aforementioned Emperor Phocas, who was famous not only for his beard on coins, but also for using sophisticated tortures to opponents, including the rack and causing serious injuries, including blinding.
After becoming Emperor, Heraclius refrained from armed conflicts with the Slavic tribes, but he threw the forces of the Empire to fight its main enemy – Persia. As a result of many years of war, the Persians were defeated in the battle near Nineveh, which was greatly facilitated by the personal duel between Heraclius and the Persian commander – in-chief Rahzad-the Persian was beheaded with a single blow of the sword.
In addition to the indemnity received, Heraclius returned to Jerusalem one of the main shrines of Christianity - the Life-giving Cross, which had been stolen by the Persians. And he had every reason to take on the title that later became the hallmark of the Byzantine emperors – 'Basileus, the King faithful in Christ'after the victory over the Persians.
As for coins, it was during the reign of Heraclius that the Greek language was used to write the legend – before that, the romaeans wrote the legend in Latin.
On the obverse of my solidus, Heraclius is depicted with his son Heraclius Constantine in the official dress of the emperors – ancient Greek chlamydia.
On the reverse, there is a cross on a stepped pedestal and the inscription “CONOB” (Constantinopoli Moneta Obsignata).
Solidi went far beyond the borders of Byzantium – the trade relations of Byzantine merchants turned them into world money of the 1st Millennium ad.
Золотой солид из Константинополя
Золотой солид, Византия
Country
:
Византия
Denomination
:
солид
Year
:
610-641 н.э.
Mint
:
Circulation
:
Material
:
Weight
:
Diameter
:
Alexander R.
