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24 - Coins

from Part II - Artefacts and Evidence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2025

Leonard V. Rutgers
Affiliation:
Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands
Neil Christie
Affiliation:
University of Leicester
Robin M. Jensen
Affiliation:
University of Notre Dame, Indiana
Jodi Magness
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
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Summary

This chapter explores the transformation of coinage in Late Antiquity, examining its economic, political and cultural significance between the third and eighth centuries. It analyses a wide range of numismatic materials, including Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic coinage, to trace how monetary systems evolved in response to imperial policies and economic shifts. The study emphasises the transition from the traditional Roman denarius system to the solidus-based economy introduced by Constantine, in which the solidus became the dominant currency across the Byzantine world. It also examines how coinage functioned as a tool of imperial propaganda. A central argument is that changes in coin iconography reflect broader cultural and religious transformations. The adoption of Christian symbols such as the Chi-Rho and crosses on Byzantine coinage marked a shift from classical motifs to explicitly religious imagery. The chapter also highlights how early Islamic rulers adapted Byzantine coin models, gradually replacing human portraits with inscriptions emphasising monotheism. By considering regional variations, the study examines the persistence of local minting traditions and the interaction between different monetary economies. Thus, it demonstrates that coinage in Late Antiquity was more than a medium of exchange – it was a powerful instrument of ideological messaging and state control.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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  • Coins
  • Edited by Leonard V. Rutgers, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands, Neil Christie, University of Leicester, Robin M. Jensen, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, Jodi Magness, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Book: The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Late Antique Art and Archaeology
  • Online publication: 04 July 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009535090.025
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  • Coins
  • Edited by Leonard V. Rutgers, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands, Neil Christie, University of Leicester, Robin M. Jensen, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, Jodi Magness, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Book: The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Late Antique Art and Archaeology
  • Online publication: 04 July 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009535090.025
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Coins
  • Edited by Leonard V. Rutgers, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands, Neil Christie, University of Leicester, Robin M. Jensen, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, Jodi Magness, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Book: The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Late Antique Art and Archaeology
  • Online publication: 04 July 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009535090.025
Available formats
×