Description

• Citizens of the Byzantine empire would have recognised themselves as "Roman". The Byzantine Empire was a medieval and early modern state that existed in southeastern Europe between the 4th and 15th centuries. It was a successor state of the Roman Empire, it was founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in 324 AD at Constantinople (now Istanbul) and lasted until 1453. During most of its existence, it was the most powerful economic, cultural, and military force in Europe in parallel with the growing power of the Frankish and Holy Roman Empire. As a continuation of the Roman Empire, it is also conventionally referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium.
• Copper was one of the first metals to be used by humans and it has been an important part of human civilization for over 10,000 years. Copper is a soft, malleable metal with a reddish-brown color. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity and is resistant to corrosion. These properties made it ideal for use in coins, tools, and other objects. It is often alloyed with Tin to make Bronze which is closer to the colour of gold, harder than copper and more durable as a working tool. Greek copper coinage - staters - began around the 8th century BC. The Romans began minting their own bronze coins around 350-300 BC using Greek technology at Naples. Preceding this Roman 'coinage' was based not as circular discs but rather as small sized cast bullion possibly with a stamp on it.