The Byzantine Silver Miliaresion: The Victory Cross Heirloom Pendant

Please Note: This is an authentic ancient Byzantine Treasure Coin, and you will receive the exact pendant in the photographs and description.

Pendant size including bezel: 1” Across, 1 1/2” Tall - Width including bezel, the diameter of a U.S. Quarter

By the 5th Century, the once mighty Roman Empire was divided, and the glory of ancient Rome was fading in the West. Yet in the East, the Christian Byzantine Empire continued to flourish, preserving the traditions of Rome while developing a rich culture of its own. Centered in the magnificent city of Constantinople, this remarkable empire would endure for nearly a thousand more years.

Throughout Byzantine history, the Cross of Christ became one of the most powerful symbols of the Christian empire, celebrated in magnificent works of art, sacred treasures, and its coinage.

Among these historic treasures is the beautiful and rare silver Miliaresion. Featuring the Cross Potent standing upon three steps, surrounded by the inscription "JESUS CHRIST VICTORIOUS," this remarkable silver coin is a nearly 1,300-year-old proclamation of Christian faith.

Struck by hand in ancient Constantinople, each Miliaresion is a testament to the coin maker's art... and the enduring faith of the Byzantine Empire.

Your Byzantine Silver Miliaresion:

• Denomination: Miliaresion
• Ruler: Leo III and Constantine V
• Coin Metal: Silver
• Bezel Metal: Proprietary, Non-Tarnishing Sterling Silver
• Coin struck: 720 - 741 AD
• Mint: Constantinople
• Obverse (Front): Cross Potent standing upon three steps, surrounded by the inscription proclaiming the victory of Jesus Christ: IHSUS XRISTUS NICA — "JESUS CHRIST VICTORIOUS"
• Reverse (Back): Five lines of inscription naming Leo III and Constantine V, proclaiming their authority as emperors by the grace of God
• Articulating Bail Interior Diameter: Will accommodate necklace up to 6.2 mm
• Pendant size including bezel: 1” Across, 1 1/2” Tall - Width including bezel, the diameter of a U.S. Quarter

Robert's Notes: What I love about these remarkable silver coins is the strength and simplicity of their design. The Cross dominates one side, while the names of the emperors appear on the other. Nearly 1,300 years after it was struck, the coin still carries the same powerful declaration of faith: JESUS CHRIST VICTORIOUS.

One of the fascinating distinctions of Byzantine coinage is the relative rarity of silver. While the empire produced magnificent gold coins and large quantities of bronze coinage, silver coins were issued far less consistently. Unlike the ancient Romans, who struck enormous quantities of silver coins, Byzantine rulers relied heavily upon gold and bronze. Surviving Byzantine silver coins are often considerably less plentiful than one might expect, making them especially interesting treasures of the ancient Christian world.

The Byzantine Empire was firmly rooted in its Greek past. Byzantines were primarily Greek-speakers throughout much of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Their capital city was Constantinople, also historically known as Byzantium.

Although today we refer to their civilization as the Byzantine Empire or Eastern Roman Empire, its citizens considered themselves Romans, and their empire the continuation of Rome.

Byzantine coinage reflects the extraordinary history of this Christian civilization. From magnificent gold Solidi to silver Miliaresia and bronze coinage, these ancient treasures preserve the symbols of faith and artistic traditions of an empire that endured for more than a thousand years.

Coin Notes:

"JESUS CHRIST IS VICTORIOUS" — The inscription IHSUS XRISTUS NICA is a powerful declaration of Christ's victory. The final word, NICA, comes from the Greek word meaning victory or triumph. This proclamation celebrates Christ's triumph over death and sin, a central theme in Byzantine Christian faith and symbolism. The declaration of Christ's victory became one of the enduring expressions of faith in Byzantine Christian art and coinage.

The Victory Cross: The Cross Potent, distinguished by its distinctive T-shaped arms, stands upon a three-step base. This traditional Byzantine design is often associated with the Cross of Calvary on Golgotha Hill, the site of Christ's Crucifixion. The image represents the triumph of Christ and the central place of Christianity in the Byzantine world.

The Rarity of Byzantine Silver: One of the intriguing paradoxes of Byzantine monetary history is that silver coins can be considerably scarcer than gold. For much of the empire's history, bronze served everyday commerce, while gold Solidi were issued in substantial quantities for imperial payments, military expenditures, and major transactions. Silver coinage, by contrast, was produced intermittently, with some periods seeing very limited silver issues. The introduction of the Miliaresion under Leo III was therefore an important development, restoring a recognizable silver denomination to the empire's monetary system. These remarkable survivors offer a fascinating glimpse into a less frequently encountered part of Byzantine coinage.

Your Byzantine Silver Miliaresion Pendant comes with:

1. Our 100% Authentic Lifetime Guarantee
2. A Detailed, Multi-Page Certificate of Authenticity Researched and Written by April Knecht and Robert Lewis Knecht
3. Treasure Hunters Gazette Booklet
4. Mini Museum Display for when you are not wearing your treasure
5. A Treasure Jewelry Care Card