Byzantine monetary system

The Byzantine monetary system was the currency system used in the Eastern Roman Empire, known as Byzantium, from around the 4th century until the 15th century. It was based on a gold solidus (or bezant), which was a stable and widely accepted coin. The system included various other coins made of silver, copper, and bronze that represented different values. This standardized and durable currency facilitated trade across the empire and beyond. Over time, the system evolved with coins being debased or revalued, but the solidus remained a key, trusted unit of monetary stability in Byzantine commerce.