Solidus

Art Historical Context

Step into the glittering world of the Byzantine Empire with this exquisite *Solidus*, a gold coin minted between 396 and 408 CE. Measuring just 13/16 x 1/16 inches, this tiny treasure from the Medieval Art collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art the empire's mastery of numismatic art. Gifted by Darius Ogden Mills in 1904, it reflects the economic and political stability of Byzantium, where gold solidi served as the backbone of international trade and imperial prestige. Crafted from pure gold, the solidus was a revolutionary currency introduced earlier by Emperor Constantine the Great, ma...