$ 4,670.00 USD Size Guide
Please Note: This is an authentic ancient Byzantine Treasure Coin, and you will receive the exact pendant in the photographs and description.
By the early 5th Century, the once dominant Roman Empire was a fragmented collection of on-again, off-again allied or warring regions. Divided roughly between the western and eastern halves of the empire, the glory of Rome was no longer. Out of the ashes of this once great society rose the empire that would dominate European culture, economics and warfare for close to a millennium: The Eastern Roman, or Christian Byzantine Empire.
From its origins to the height of its glory, Byzantine coinage bearing the image of Christ celebrated the faith of the Christian empire. And among the most prized of its coinage are the gold coins bearing the Image of Christ - this stunning, Histamenon Nomisma is a testament to the coin maker's art... and Christian faith.
Robert's Notes: This coins is in stunning, virtually uncirculated condition. Byzantine gold in this high quality is getting harder and harder to acquire in recent years.
It is one of the highest quality gold coins I have ever had the pleasure to work with. I created a special luxury weight 18K gold frame that gives this piece a beautiful regal look and feel. I love to use 18K gold instead of 14K as most ancient jewelry and coins where created from 22K to 24K (pure) gold. The warm glow of the 18K compliments the gold coin. It is in amazing condition for its age and high purity of gold.
What Do the Images on this Byzantine Coin Mean?
Obverse (front): Christ is facing with nimbus cross (the hallo around Christ's head - note the same nimbus cross in artwork from that time period), He is holding Gospels, right hand is raised in benediction. The Latin around the edge is +IhS XIS REX REGNANTIhM. IhS and XIS are initials for Jesus Christ, REGNANTIhM is King King of the Kings. The iconography of Christ on the obverse, and the ruler on the reverse (back) holding a globus cruciger signifies Jesus Christ, King of Kings
The Reverse is bASIL / C / CONSTANT / b / R, Crowned facing busts of Basil, wearing loros, and Constantine, draped, holding patriarchal cross between them.
The globus cruciger represents the Earth, with a cross extending from the top and signifies that Christ is the ruler of the world, and the king or emperor is the ruler of his dominion
The Byzantine Empire was firmly rooted in its Greek past. Byzantines were mainly Greek-speakers throughout Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Their capital city was Constantinople, which was also known historically as Byzantium. After the 5th century collapse of the Western Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire continued to thrive and grow in influence, and while we refer to the “Byzantine Empire” or “Eastern Roman Empire,” they referred to their country as simply the “Roman Empire.”
Byzantine money – the money used in the Eastern Roman Empire after the fall of the West – was made up of two very different types of coins: the gold coins and a variety of bronze coins with clearly defined values. By the end of the empire, coins were issued in silver and bronze only.
