What Are Byzantine Copper Coins “Itys”? Let’s Talk About It

Not every coin tells a story. But some do — not in words, but in the way they’re worn, what they show, and how they survived. That’s the case with a curious group of Byzantine copper coins that collectors and historians sometimes refer to as “itys.” Now, I’ll be upfront: no one really knows exactly what “itys” means. It’s not an official name like follis or tetarteron. It might’ve been a regional nickname, a local variation, or something passed down by dealers and collectors over time.

Still, these coins are real. They’ve been dug up in markets, found in fields, and studied by people like us — folks who care about more than just gold and silver. These copper pieces, humble as they may be, are part of the daily heartbeat of the Byzantine world.

🏛 A Quick Look at the Byzantine Coin System

The Byzantine Empire — which was basically the Eastern Roman Empire — had one of the most impressive monetary systems in the medieval world. At the top, you had the gold solidus, which was used for big business, war chests, and imperial gifts. Silver came next, usually in the form of miliaresion coins. But for everyday stuff? That’s where copper came in.

Coins like the ones called itys were probably used by everyday people — your local baker, the olive seller at the market, or a mother buying fabric. They were struck in massive numbers, and they changed hands all the time. In fact, most people in the empire probably never held a gold coin in their lives — but copper? That was part of daily life.

🎨 The Art on These Coins Was No Joke

Even though these coins were made of copper — the least valuable metal in the system — the Byzantines didn’t cut corners when it came to design. A typical copper coin from this era could have:

• Christ’s face, calm and front-facing
• The Virgin Mary, hands raised in prayer
• Saints, shown standing, holding crosses or scrolls
• Emperors, sometimes alone, sometimes with Christ above them

And then there were the inscriptions. Most coins had Greek letters and phrases — things like “Jesus Christ, King of Kings” or “May the Lord help our emperor.” These weren’t just religious lines — they were meant to remind people who was in charge, both spiritually and politically.

🧺 What Were These Coins Actually Used For?

Simple: everything. You’d use them to buy bread, vegetables, a glass of wine, or to pay a toll on a country road. Soldiers might get paid in them. Church donations were made with them. They were money for the people — and they had to work hard.

And here’s something cool — the designs on the coins weren’t just decoration. They were a kind of message. If you saw the emperor on one side and Christ on the other, it told you something: this ruler wasn’t just in charge by luck or war — he had divine backing.

🧭 The Mystery of “Itys”

Now, about that word: itys. You won’t find it in official Byzantine texts or legal documents. It’s not a formal coin type like follis or nummus. But some collectors and dealers use the term — and it keeps popping up in conversations, forums, and auction catalogs.

So what could it mean?

• A local variation of a standard coin?
• A nickname used in a certain city or province?
• A label that stuck over time, even if it wasn’t official?

The truth is, no one’s totally sure. And that’s part of the fun. Some coins hold their secrets a little tighter than others.

🏺 Where Are These Coins Found?

These copper coins — “itys” or otherwise — have been uncovered all over former Byzantine territory:

• Greece
• Turkey (especially near Constantinople)
• The Balkans
• Southern Italy
• Syria and the Levant

Many are found in hoards — buried caches of coins hidden during times of war, invasion, or economic trouble. Others are isolated finds, picked up by archaeologists or local farmers plowing a field.

Sometimes, they show wear so heavy that you can barely see the design. Other times, you’ll come across one that looks almost untouched. Either way, each one has its own story.

💬 What Do They Tell Us?

Even though these coins aren’t flashy, they teach us a lot:

• The faith of the people — through the religious imagery
• The authority of the emperor — through bold inscriptions and portraits
• The reach of the empire — since coins were found far beyond the borders
• The economy — how money worked at the street level

For example, if you find a copper coin of Alexios I Komnenos minted in Thessalonica, you’re holding a piece of real history — something that was touched, spent, and maybe even saved by a real person 900 years ago.

💰 Do People Still Collect Them?

You bet. Byzantine copper coins are very collectible, especially because they’re more affordable than gold or silver issues. You can find a decent example for €20–50, while rarer ones (with clean portraits or unusual inscriptions) can sell for much more — even a few hundred euros.

But the value isn’t just in price — it’s in the story. You’re not buying a coin. You’re buying a connection to a vanished world.

✨ Final Thoughts

The copper coins linked to the name “itys” might not have the shine of a gold solidus or the crisp lines of a silver miliaresion, but they matter. A lot. They were the everyday money of a great empire — a way for people to live, trade, worship, and remember who ruled.

And maybe the fact that we’re still trying to figure out what “itys” really means says something too. These coins still have secrets. And if you’re lucky enough to hold one, maybe you’ll feel a bit of that mystery for yourself.