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The Collections | Coins | In Focus | Byzantine Coins | Byzantine Economy and Society
Byzantine Coins
Byzantine Economy and Society
The Byzantine state retained a key role in the planning and issuing of coinage by controlling some of the most important aspects of its economy, such as interest rates, maritime trade, taxation, salaries of state officials and the army. This centralised character, similar to the economic planning in modern states, was in complete contrast to the regionalised economic systems of western medieval Europe. Byzantine coins were struck in gold, silver and copper, and the availability or dearth of certain denominations throughout Byzantium's existence reflected the changing financial and political situations that affected the empire.