Drachmas Doubloons and Dollars: The History of Money
(Exhibition Home)
Medieval Byzantine and Islamic Empires
Introduction
The Reforms of Anastasius I - The 6th and 7th Centuries - Symbols of a Christian Empire - The Reforms of Alexius I Comnenus - The Venetian Standard - Early Islamic Coinage - Dirhams and Dinars - The Western Islamic World - Figural Islamic Coins - The Mongols
The 6th and 7th Centuries

At the height of its power, the Byzantine Empire under Justinian I (527-565) reclaimed areas of Italy, Sicily and North Africa lost to the Goths and Vandals. Heraclius (610-641) pushed back the Sasanian Persian armies of Khusru II (591-628) and restored the True Cross to Jerusalem. However, by the time of Constans II (641-668), the Islamic Arabs had taken over large sections of the Empire.
Bronze follis (538-539) of Justinian I from Constantinople depicting the emperor in military costume.
Gold solidus of Heraclius from Constantinople depicting the emperor and his two sons, Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas.
Sasanian silver drahm (622) of Khusru II.
Bronze solidus (659-661) of Constans II from Syracuse depicting the emperor (left) and his son, Constantine IV (right).