Hostname: page-component-6d856f89d9-nr6nt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-16T08:05:45.608Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Heraclian countermarks on Byzantine copper coins in seventh-century Syria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2016

Wolfgang Schulze ,
Ingrid Schulze  and
Wolfgang Leimenstoll
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Countermarks with the monogram of the Emperor Heraclius (610–41) are found in Syria on Byzantine copper coins. After discussing the typology and the reading of the countermarks we reject the older proposals that the countermarks served as a kind of revaluation in connection with the Heraclian monetary reforms. Statistical analyses of 173 specimens and their provenances, as well as comparisons with contemporary finds, have led us to the conclusion that the countermarks were applied between c. 633 and 636 in Palestine 1. They were presumably produced during the struggles with the invading Arabs. Circulating copper coins (old and new — folles, three-quarter and half folles) became revalued by countermarking because of the serious lack of cash at that time in Syria.

Type
Research Article
Information
Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies , Volume 30 , Issue 1 , 2006 , pp. 1 - 27
Copyright
Copyright © The Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern Greek Studies, University of Birmingham 2006 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Amitai-Preiss, N., et al. (1999), ‘The Coinage of Scythopolis-Baysan and Gerasa-Jerash’, Israel Numismatic journal 13, 133–51.Google Scholar
Bates, G.E. (1968), ‘A Byzantine hoard from Coelesyria’, ANS Museum Notes 14, 67–109.Google Scholar
Bellinger, A.R. (1938), ‘Coins from Jerash 1928–1934’, ANS Numismatic Notes and Monographs 81 (New York).Google Scholar
DeRose Evans, J. (1994), ‘Heraclian countermarks on coins found in Caesarea’, American Journal of Numismatics 5–6, 97 ff.Google Scholar
Dikigoropoulos, A.I. (1956), ‘A Byzantine hoard from Kharcha, Cyprus’, The Numismatic Chronicle 16, 255–65.Google Scholar
Donald, P.J. (1997), ‘A new follis for Heraclius 629/630 AD’, The Numismatic Circular 110.Google Scholar
Donner, F. McG. (1981), The Early Islamic Conquests (Princeton).Google Scholar
Economides, K.N. (2003), ‘Byzantine folles countermarked with Heraclian monograms found in Cyprus’, The Numismatic Chronicle 163, 193–204.Google Scholar
Foss, C. (1999), ‘The coinage of Syria in the seventh century: The evidence of excavations’, Israel Numismatic Journal 13, 119–32.Google Scholar
Goodwin, T. (2000). ‘Seventh century Islamic countermarks from Syria’, ONS Newsletter 162, 13–16.Google Scholar
Grierson, P. (1968), Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, II (Washington).Google Scholar
Grierson, P. (1982), Byzantine Coins (Berkeley and Los Angeles).Google Scholar
Grünwald, M. (1946), Die römischen Bronze- und Kupfermünzen mit Schlagmarken im Legionslager Vindonissa (Basel).Google Scholar
Hahn, W. (1981), Moneta Imperii Byzantini, III (Vienna).Google Scholar
Hahn, W., and Nebehay, S. (1993), ‘Die Entwicklung des Münzwesens im syrischen Raum von frühbyzantinischer Zeit bis zum Ende der Omaijaden’, Syrien: Von den Aposteln bis zu den Kalifen, Exhibition Catalogue (Mainz) 196–200.Google Scholar
Haldon, J. (1990), Byzantium in the Seventh Century (Cambridge).Google Scholar
Haldon, J. (2002), Das byzantinische Reich: Geschichte und Kultur eines Jahrtausends (Düsseldorf and Zürich).Google Scholar
Hendy, M.F. (1970), ‘On the administrative basis of the Byzantine coinage c.400-c.900 and the reforms of Heraclius’, University of Birmingham Historical Journal 12/2.Google Scholar
Hendy, M.F. (1985), Studies in the Byzantine Monetary Economy c. 300-1450 (Cambridge).Google Scholar
Hitti, P.K. (2002), History of the Arabs, revised 10th edn (Basingstoke and New York).Google Scholar
Howgego, C.J. (1985), Greek Imperial Countermarks (London).Google Scholar
Kaegi, W.E. (1992a), Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquest (Cambridge).Google Scholar
Kaegi, W.E. (1992b), ‘Reflections on the withdrawal of Byzantine armies from Syria’, La Syrie de Byzance à l'Islam, VIIe-VIHe siècles: Actes du colloque international, Lyon — Maison de I'Orient Mèditerraneen, Paris — Institut du Monde Arabe, 11—15 Septembre 1990, publiés par Pierre Canivet et Jean-Paul Rey-Coquais (Damascus) 265–79.Google Scholar
Kaegi, W.E. (2003), Heraclius: Emperor of Byzantium (Cambridge).Google Scholar
Köhler-Osbahr, (1999), Sammlung Köhler-Osbahr, Byzantinische Münzen und ihr Umfeld, V/2 (Duisburg).Google Scholar
Kraay, C.M. (1956), ‘The behaviour of early imperial countermarks’, Essays in Roman Coinage Presented to Harold Mattingly (Oxford) 113–36.Google Scholar
Lampinen, P. (1999), ‘Countermarked Byzantine folles and the identification of a new imperial family member’, Caesarea Papers 2 (Porthmouth, Rhode Island) 399–404.Google Scholar
Leuthold, E. (1953), ‘Monete bizantine rinvenute in Siria’, Rivista italiana di numismatica 54-5, 31–49.Google Scholar
Lilie, R.-J. (2003), Byzanz: Das zweite Rom (Berlin).Google Scholar
Maier, F.-G. (2000), ‘Die Verwandlung der Mittelmeerwelt’, Fischer Weltgeschichte, IX (Augsburg).Google Scholar
Metcalf, D.M. (2001), ‘Monetary recession in the Middle Byzantine period: the numismatic evidence’ The Numismatic Chronicle 161, 111–55.Google Scholar
Metcalf, D.M. (2003), ‘Byzantine, Islamic, and Crusader coins from Saranda Kolones, Paphos’, The Numismatic Chronicle 163, 205–26.Google Scholar
Metcalf, W.E. (1975), ‘A Heraclian hoard from Syria’, ANS Museum Notes 20, 109–37.Google Scholar
Morrisson, C. (1970), Catalogue des monnaies byzantines de la Bibliothèque Nationale 491–1204 (Paris).Google Scholar
Morrisson, C. (1992), ‘Le monnayage omeyyade et l'histoire administrative et économique de la Syrie’ La Syrie de Byzance à l'Islam, VIIe-VIIIe siècles: Actes du colloque international, Lyon — Maison de l'Orient Méditerranéen, Paris — Institut du Monde Arabe, 11-15 Septembre 1990, publiés par Pierre Canivet et Jean-Paul Rey-Coquais (Damascus) 309–18.Google Scholar
Nicolaou, I. (1990), Paphos, Volume II: The Coins of the House of Dionysos (Nicosia).Google Scholar
Phillips, M., and Goodwin, T. (1997), ‘A seventh-century Syrian hoard of Byzantine and imitative copper coins’, The Numismatic Chronicle 157, 61–86.Google Scholar
Pohlsander, H.A. (2001), ‘Herakleios’, in Biographisch-Bibliographiscbes Kirchenlexikon, XIX (Nordhausen) cols. 654-71.Google Scholar
Pottier, H. (2000), unpublished letter to Peter Lampinen, 7 November 2000.Google Scholar
Schmitt, O. (2001), ‘Untersuchungen zur Organisation und zur militärischen Stärke oströmischer Herrschaft im Vorderen Orient zwischen 628 und 633’, BZ 94, 197–229.Google Scholar
Sear, D.R. (1987), Byzantine Coins and their Values, 2nd edn (London).Google Scholar
Shaban, M.A. (1971), Islamic History A.D. 600-750 (A.H. 132): A New Interpretation (Cambridge).Google Scholar
Treadwell, W.L. (2000), ‘The chronology of the pre-reform copper coinage of early Islamic Syria’, Supplement to ONS Newsletter 162.Google Scholar
Waagé, D.B. (1952), Antioch-on-the-Orontes, IV, Part 2: Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Crusaders’ Coins (Princeton).Google Scholar