Byzantine Coinage

Early Life and the Division of the Empire

Who was Galla Placidia? Galla Placidia, born around AD 388, was the daughter of Emperor Theodosius I and his second wife, Galla. Her early years were shaped by a rapidly changing Roman Empire. Specifically, after her father's death in AD 395, the empire split into Eastern and Western regions. This division set the stage for the political upheaval and power struggles that would become a constant in her life

Galla Placidia's upbringing within the Roman court afforded her a unique vantage point to observe and understand the inner workings of imperial politics. As power struggles intensified, she quickly learned the intricacies of alliances, betrayals, and strategic marriages. Despite the turbulence surrounding her, Galla Placidia cultivated strong relationships with influential

Easter is a significant time for Christians all over the world. Most importantly, it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. For coin collectors, it is an opportunity to explore the rare coins representing Jesus Christ throughout history. In this blog post, we will delve into the Byzantine and Medieval times. In addition, we will learn about the rare coins that represent Jesus Christ rising from the dead.

Byzantine Coins

The Byzantine Empire was the continuation of the Roman Empire in the east. Additionally, it produced a variety of coins with religious motifs. Among these are rare coins that depict

As far as the history of rulers of the Byzantine Empire, Tiberius II was a good emperor. Tiberius II ruled as an Eastern Roman emperor from 574 to 582. He ruled Byzantine Empire under the Justinian dynasty and proved himself to be a capable administrator that was well loved by his people.

During the Justinian Dynasty Tiberius II rose to power in 574 when Justin II started to have a mental breakdown. Justin the II had adopted Tiberius as his own son and proclaimed him Caesar. In fact, in 578 the dying Justin II gave Tiberius the title of Augustus and becoming co-emperor alongside him. Tiberius became sole ruler less than two weeks later. Subsequently, Tiberius took the regnal name of "Constantine" under which he reigned until his death.  

The Roman Empire began fragmenting in the 5th century AD. However, as the Western Empire fell in c. 376-476, the Eastern Roman Empire began to thrive. The name Byzantine Empire, or Byzantium became more popular than calling it the Eastern Roman Empire. There was also a clear power shift from Rome to the new capital city of Constantinople. In short, it was the beginning of a new era. The age when the Byzantine Empire Gold Solidus became a symbol of this new dynasty. One that would last for over a thousand years. Ultimately, falling to the Ottoman Empire in 1453.

Christianity became the official religion. This caused a major cultural shift. In addition, the official language changed from Latin to Greek. All of this, because the Eastern Orthodox church became the dominant power.