Solidus, Eastern Roman Empire, Constantinople, Leo I, 457–474

In 395, the Roman Empire was divided into two parts, the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire, which was also known as the Byzantine Empire. The coin you can see was minted for Emperor Leo I, who was proclaimed emperor in 457 AD in Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.

During Leo’s reign, a people known as the Vandals were established in western North Africa. They conducted raids at sea and plundered places such as Rome, the capital of the Western Roman Empire. The Romans’ attempt to suppress the Vandals failed, and both the Roman fleet and the city treasury were destroyed.

Image rights: Helena Bonnevier, Ekonomiska museet - Kungliga myntkabinettet/SHM (CC BY 4.0)

Object number: 206986_KMK

<   4 of 9  >