Byzantine Empire
Anonymous folles and gold solidi
Byzantine bronze folles are among the most affordable and accessible ancient coins in existence. Anonymous folles featuring Christ on the obverse cost just $20–$70, while named-emperor folles from Justinian I run $50–$100.
The Byzantine Empire preserved Roman civilization for a thousand years after the fall of the West, and its coinage reflects this extraordinary continuity. From the massive folles of Justinian to the cup-shaped trachea of the Komnenoi, these coins trace the evolution of Christian imperial power.
Gold solidi remain elusive at $600–$1,500+, but the Komnenian electrum aspron trachy — cup-shaped and roughly 25% gold — offers a realistic "gold-ish" Byzantine experience at $100–$300.
Coins in This Collection
3 coins
Byzantine Empire · 527–565 AD
Justinian I Bronze Follis
The emperor who rebuilt the Roman Empire and codified Roman law
Byzantine Empire · 913–959 AD
Constantine VII Gold Solidus
The "dollar of the Middle Ages" — trusted from Constantinople to China
Byzantine Empire · 969–1030 AD
Anonymous Christ Follis
The face of Christ on a coin — Byzantine devotion in bronze