Basilikon
Encyclopedia
The basilikon commonly also referred to as the doukaton (δουκάτον), was a widely circulated Byzantine
silver coin of the first half of the 14th century. Its introduction marked the return to a wide-scale use of silver coinage in the Byzantine Empire, and presaged the total abandonment of the gold coins around the middle of the century.
The basilikon was introduced shortly before 1304 by Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos
(r. 1282–1328), chiefly to pay the mercenaries of the Catalan Company
, in direct imitation of the Venetian
silver ducat
or grosso
. The Byzantine coin closely followed the iconography of the Venetian model, with a seated Christ
on the obverse and the two standing figures of Andronikos II and his son and co-emperor Michael IX Palaiologos
(r. 1294–1320) substituting St. Mark and the Doge of Venice
on the reverse. The similarity was reinforced by the name of the new coin: the ducato, the "coin of the doge", became the basilikon, the "coin of the basileus
", although the contemporary Greek sources usually call both doukaton.
The basilikon was of high-grade silver (.920), flat and not concave (scyphate
) as other Byzantine coins, weighing 2.2 grams and officially traded at a rate of 1 to 12 with the gold hyperpyron
or two keratia, the traditional rate for Byzantine silver coinage since the days of the hexagram
and the miliaresion
. The actual rate however was usually lower, and fluctuated depending on the changing price of silver: contemporary sources indicate actual rates of 12.5, 13 or 15 basilika to the hyperpyron. Examples of half-basilika are also known to have been minted.
In the 1330s and 1340s however the basilikons weight was much reduced, as a result of a silver shortage affecting all of Europe and the Mediterranean, falling to 1.25 grams by the late 1340s. It ceased to be struck in the 1350s, and was replaced ca. 1367 with the new, heavier stavraton
.
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
silver coin of the first half of the 14th century. Its introduction marked the return to a wide-scale use of silver coinage in the Byzantine Empire, and presaged the total abandonment of the gold coins around the middle of the century.
The basilikon was introduced shortly before 1304 by Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos , Latinized as Andronicus II Palaeologus, was Byzantine emperor from 1282 to 1328. He was the eldest surviving son of Michael VIII Palaiologos and Theodora Doukaina Vatatzina, grandniece of John III Doukas Vatatzes...
(r. 1282–1328), chiefly to pay the mercenaries of the Catalan Company
Catalan Company
The Catalan Company of the East , officially the Magnas Societas Catalanorum, sometimes called the Grand Company and widely known as the Catalan Company, was a free company of mercenaries founded by Roger de Flor in the early 14th-century...
, in direct imitation of the Venetian
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
silver ducat
Ducat
The ducat is a gold coin that was used as a trade coin throughout Europe before World War I. Its weight is 3.4909 grams of .986 gold, which is 0.1107 troy ounce, actual gold weight...
or grosso
Grosso of Venice
The grosso of Venice is a silver coin first introduced in Venice in 1193 under doge Enrico Dandolo. It originally weighed 2.18 grams and was composed of 98.5% pure silver, valued at 26 dinarii...
. The Byzantine coin closely followed the iconography of the Venetian model, with a seated Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
on the obverse and the two standing figures of Andronikos II and his son and co-emperor Michael IX Palaiologos
Michael IX Palaiologos
Michael IX Palaiologos or Palaeologus , , reigned as Byzantine co-emperor with full imperial style 1294/1295–1320...
(r. 1294–1320) substituting St. Mark and the Doge of Venice
Doge of Venice
The Doge of Venice , often mistranslated Duke was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice for over a thousand years. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city...
on the reverse. The similarity was reinforced by the name of the new coin: the ducato, the "coin of the doge", became the basilikon, the "coin of the basileus
Basileus
Basileus is a Greek term and title that has signified various types of monarchs in history. It is perhaps best known in English as a title used by the Byzantine Emperors, but also has a longer history of use for persons of authority and sovereigns in ancient Greece, as well as for the kings of...
", although the contemporary Greek sources usually call both doukaton.
The basilikon was of high-grade silver (.920), flat and not concave (scyphate
Scyphate
Scyphate is a term frequently used in numismatics to refer to the concave or "cup-shaped" Byzantine coins of the 11th–14th centuries.This usage emerged in the 19th century, when the term scyphatus, attested in south Italian documents of the 11th and 12th centuries, was erroneously interpreted as...
) as other Byzantine coins, weighing 2.2 grams and officially traded at a rate of 1 to 12 with the gold hyperpyron
Hyperpyron
The hyperpyron was a Byzantine coin in use in the latter Middle Ages, replacing the solidus as the Empire's gold coinage.The gold currency of the Byzantine Empire had been the solidus or nomisma, whose gold content had remained steady at 24 carats for seven centuries and was consequently...
or two keratia, the traditional rate for Byzantine silver coinage since the days of the hexagram
Hexagram (currency)
The hexagram was a large silver coin of the Byzantine Empire issued primarily during the 7th century AD.With the exception of a few 6th-century ceremonial issues, silver coins were not used in late Roman/early Byzantine monetary system , chiefly because of the great fluctuation of its price...
and the miliaresion
Miliaresion
The miliaresion , was a name used for a number of Byzantine silver coins. In its most specific sense, it refers to a type of silver coin struck in the 8th–11th centuries....
. The actual rate however was usually lower, and fluctuated depending on the changing price of silver: contemporary sources indicate actual rates of 12.5, 13 or 15 basilika to the hyperpyron. Examples of half-basilika are also known to have been minted.
In the 1330s and 1340s however the basilikons weight was much reduced, as a result of a silver shortage affecting all of Europe and the Mediterranean, falling to 1.25 grams by the late 1340s. It ceased to be struck in the 1350s, and was replaced ca. 1367 with the new, heavier stavraton
Stavraton
The stavraton or stauraton was a type of silver coin used during the last century of the Byzantine Empire.The name first appears in the mid-11th century for a gold histamenon showing the emperor holding a cross-shaped scepter, but in its more specific sense, it denotes the large silver coins...
.