Top 25 Byzantine Gold Coins: Icons of Imperial Majesty

The top 25 Byzantine gold coins—especially the solidus and later the histamenon—are among the most revered pieces in numismatics. Struck in near-pure gold, they served not just as currency, but as dazzling symbols of divine imperial power. From Constantine the Great to Constantine XI, these coins documented over 1,000 years of Christian empire.

This handpicked list of the Top 25 Byzantine Gold Coins celebrates beauty, rarity, and historical importance. Each coin includes:

• Emperor & dates
• Obverse and reverse designs
• Christian symbolism
• Estimated auction value range

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Top 25 Byzantine Gold Coins

1. Constantine I – Solidus (c. 310–337 AD)

• Obverse: Laureate Constantine

• Reverse: Victory or Sol Invictus

• Note: First true Byzantine-style solidus

• Auction Range: $2,000–$10,000+

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2. Theodosius I – Solidus (379–395 AD)

• Obverse: Pearl-diademed bust

• Reverse: Victory standing, inscribing shield

• Symbolism: Christianized imperial victory

• Auction Range: $1,500–$6,000

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3. Zeno – Solidus with Christogram (474–491 AD)

• Reverse: Victory with Chi-Rho shield

• Auction Range: $2,000–$5,000+

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4. Anastasius I – Solidus (491–518 AD)

• Obverse: Helmeted bust of emperor

• Reverse: Victory with cross

• Note: First emperor of fully Christian Byzantine coinage

• Auction Range: $1,200–$4,000

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5. Justinian I – Solidus (527–565 AD)

• Obverse: Facing bust with cross

• Reverse: Angel holding cross & globe

• Meaning: Heavenly sanction of rule

• Auction Range: $1,500–$6,000

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6. Justin II – Solidus with Sophia (565–578 AD)

• Obverse: Justin and Sophia enthroned

• Reverse: Victory with cross

• Symbolism: Power-sharing with empress

• Auction Range: $2,000–$8,000

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7. Tiberius II Constantine – Solidus (578–582 AD)

• Obverse: Facing bust

• Reverse: Cross potent on steps

• Auction Range: $1,800–$5,500

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8. Heraclius – Solidus with Christogram (610–641 AD)

• Obverse: Heraclius and sons

• Reverse: Cross potent between steps

• Auction Range: $1,500–$4,000

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9. Constans II – Solidus (641–668 AD)

• Obverse: Bearded facing bust

• Reverse: Cross potent

• Auction Range: $1,000–$3,000

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10. Mezezius – Solidus (668–669 AD, Syracuse mint)

• Obverse: Helmeted bust holding shield and globus cruciger

• Reverse: Cross potent on steps, CONOB below

• Note: Extremely rare usurper coin

• Auction Range: $15,000–$40,000+

• Read full article: Mezezius Solidus – The Rare Rebel Coin

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11. Justinian II – Christ Portrait Solidus (692 AD)

• Obverse: Christ facing

• Reverse: Justinian II

• Note: First true image of Christ on coinage

• Auction Range: $4,000–$20,000+

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12. Leo III – Solidus (717–741 AD)

• Obverse: Bust of Leo

• Reverse: Cross potent

• Auction Range: $1,000–$2,800

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13. Constantine V – Solidus with Leo IV (741–775 AD)

• Obverse: Constantine and Leo facing

• Auction Range: $1,200–$3,000

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14. Irene – Gold Solidus (797–802 AD)

• Obverse: Facing bust of Empress Irene

• Reverse: Cross on globe

• Note: Rare female ruler

• Auction Range: $8,000–$25,000+

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15. Theophilus – Solidus with Cross-on-steps (829–842 AD)

• Auction Range: $1,200–$2,500

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16. Basil I – Solidus with Christ and Basil (867–886 AD)

• Obverse: Christ enthroned

• Reverse: Basil I crowned

• Auction Range: $2,500–$6,000+

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17. Leo VI – Solidus with Constantine (886–912 AD)

• Obverse: Christ facing

• Reverse: Leo and Constantine crowned

• Auction Range: $1,800–$4,500

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18. Romanus I – Histamenon (920–944 AD)

• Note: Wider flan; transition coin

• Auction Range: $1,000–$2,500

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19. Basil II – Histamenon with Christ (976–1025 AD)

• Obverse: Christ enthroned

• Reverse: Basil and Constantine VIII crowned

• Auction Range: $1,200–$4,000

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20. Michael IV – Histamenon (1034–1041 AD)

• Obverse: Christ

• Reverse: Michael IV facing

• Auction Range: $800–$2,000

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21. Isaac I – Gold Histamenon (1057–1059 AD)

• Auction Range: $1,000–$2,200

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22. Michael VII – Histamenon (1071–1078 AD)

• Obverse: Christ bust

• Reverse: Michael holding cross

• Auction Range: $700–$2,000

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23. Alexius I – Hyperpyron with Virgin Mary (1092–1118 AD)

• Obverse: Virgin orans

• Reverse: Emperor with globus cruciger

• Auction Range: $800–$2,000

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24. John II Comnenus – Hyperpyron (1118–1143 AD)

• Obverse: Christ

• Reverse: Emperor with cross-topped scepter

• Auction Range: $1,000–$3,000

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25. Constantine XI – Last Gold Coins (1449–1453 AD)

• Note: Rare and symbolic; few survived fall of Constantinople

• Auction Range: Extremely rare – $15,000+

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Final Thoughts

These gold coins weren’t just money—they were declarations of power and faith. Byzantine emperors minted their image beside Christ, symbolizing divine right to rule. Many of these coins are still accessible to collectors, while others are legendary rarities.

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