The Byzantine section of the National Numismatic Collection (NNC) consists of 632 individually cataloged coins and one hoard of 529 scyphate copper pieces from the 12th century AD. This exhibit focuses on the numismatic history of the Byzantine Empire as portrayed in this collection. The exhibit begins with a general overview of Byzantine history followed by a "Ruler List" page that contains a complete listing of the Byzantine Emperors and Empresses with a listing of the cataloged coins in the collection for each ruler. The "Coinage" page is a general discussion of the denominations and types of Byzantine coinage and the changes that occurred over the 1000 years of the empire's existence.

       Byzantium is the name by which the later Eastern Roman Empire is most commonly known to Western Historians.  The Byzantines considered themselves to be Romans despite the fact that by the end of the 7th century AD Latin was no longer in regular use for official purposes - Greek had replaced Latin and had become the official language of the Empire. The core of this "new" empire was in the Greek speaking eastern provinces of the Roman Empire.  The name Byzantium is derived from the original name of Constantinople (modern Istanbul), the capital of the Roman Empire from the time of Constantine the Great's refounding of the ancient Greek city of Byzantium in 312 AD. 

       The Byzantine Empire developed a rich and unique culture through a blend of Christianity and the traditions and pragmatism of the Roman State with the Hellenism of the eastern Roman provinces. The result was a sophisticated majesty and formality combined with a deep religious faith which pervaded Byzantine culture at all levels and is reflected in Byzantine art and coinage.

       Numismatists consider that Byzantine coinage begins with the economic reforms of Anastasius I (491 - 518 AD), which laid the foundations for Byzantine prosperity and military strength for the next century. Anastasius' successors were able to reoccupy many of the areas conquered by Barbarians during the 4th century, including much of Italy, North Africa and parts of Spain. The Empire reached its greatest extent under Justinian I (527 - 565 AD), though this was not to last. The 7th century witnessed the rise of Islam, which was to become the greatest rival and threat to Byzantium and Christianity for the next 800 years. Within the span of a century, Islam had conquered the Sassanian Persian Empire and severely crippled the Byzantine Empire, taking nearly half of its territories. Byzantium became the boundary between the Christian West and the Muslim East and the preserver of the last direct link with Classical civilization.

       Byzantine coinage provided the model for the developing states of medieval Europe and for Islam. Despite the territorial losses of the 7th century and increasing encroachments by various waves of barbarians in the West (Lombards, Slavs, Russ etc.) the gold solidus (or nomisma, as it later became known) maintained its position as the most stable and desirable trade coinage throughout the Mediterranean world up to the borders of India. The reputation of Byzantine gold began to decline during the 11th century, particularly after the disastrous defeat by the Seljuq Turks at Manzikert in 1071, after which the Seljuqs conquered nearly all of Asia Minor, thus ending Byzantium's days as a major power. Alexius I's reforms in the late 11th century temporarily restored the stability and reputation of Byzantine coinage until the sack of Constantinople by the Venetians and the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade in 1204 permanently crippled the Empire and its economy.