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

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+

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

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

Reverse: Victory with Chi-Rho shield
Auction Range: $2,000–$5,000+

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

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

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

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

Obverse: Facing bust
Reverse: Cross potent on steps
Auction Range: $1,800–$5,500

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

Obverse: Heraclius and sons
Reverse: Cross potent between steps
Auction Range: $1,500–$4,000

9. Constans II – Solidus (641–668 AD)

Obverse: Bearded facing bust
Reverse: Cross potent
Auction Range: $1,000–$3,000

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

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+

12. Leo III – Solidus (717–741 AD)

Obverse: Bust of Leo
Reverse: Cross potent
Auction Range: $1,000–$2,800

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

Obverse: Constantine and Leo facing
Auction Range: $1,200–$3,000

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+

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

Auction Range: $1,200–$2,500

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

Obverse: Christ enthroned
Reverse: Basil I crowned
Auction Range: $2,500–$6,000+

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

Obverse: Christ facing
Reverse: Leo and Constantine crowned
Auction Range: $1,800–$4,500

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

Note: Wider flan; transition coin
Auction Range: $1,000–$2,500

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

Obverse: Christ enthroned
Reverse: Basil and Constantine VIII crowned
Auction Range: $1,200–$4,000

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

Obverse: Christ
Reverse: Michael IV facing
Auction Range: $800–$2,000

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

Auction Range: $1,000–$2,200

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

Obverse: Christ bust
Reverse: Michael holding cross
Auction Range: $700–$2,000

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

Obverse: Virgin orans
Reverse: Emperor with globus cruciger
Auction Range: $800–$2,000

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

Obverse: Christ
Reverse: Emperor with cross-topped scepter
Auction Range: $1,000–$3,000

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

Note: Rare and symbolic; few survived fall of Constantinople
Auction Range: Extremely rare – $15,000+

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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