Solidus (coin)
The solidus or solidus aureus was a Roman gold coin.
The solidus was (but no later than 312 ) was introduced by Emperor Constantine the Great at 309 instead of the previously usual Aureus. The aureus was the wide -ranging gold coin since Emperor Augustus, but had lost so heavily in the 3rd century in value and fineness that a reform seemed necessary. Constantine was the first coin solidus by 309 in Augusta Treverorum (Trier), his former residence.
Under his rule the new Solidus Aureus was (ie, the " solid, reliable Aureus " ), however, not merely the general imperial currency (since 324), but also soon acquired importance over the empire 's borders. The value was 1/ 72 of the Roman pound (that is usually about 4.55 grams), which was sometimes expressed by the number LXXII on the coin. So 72 solidi were a pound, and 7200 solidi a Roman hundredweight ( centenarium ).
The letters OB characterize the solidi as Feingold (of obryzum, " refined "). The most common is the third section, the Tremissis or triene, besides also the half solidus ( the Semissis ) was widespread. Rarely, however, are pieces of 1 1 /2, 2 and more solidi, so-called Multipla. On special occasions also Multipla worth 36 or even 72 solidi were made in late antiquity in very low numbers, which distributed the emperor as gifts to dignitaries. According to modern estimates were circulating in the 5th and 6th centuries many millions of solidi throughout the Mediterranean and beyond.
The name Solidus persisted long for different monetary values . Finally he went in the High Middle Ages, fell down more and more as a delicacy and market value of the coin, copper coins, such as the Italian Soldo, the Spanish and the French Sueldo Sol (later Sou ), over. In medieval documents the shilling is often used by the Latin name solidus ( see, for example mint Weimar, Brakteatenzeit ).
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the rulers of the Germanic successor kingdoms dominated initially continue solidi; because the stamping of gold was considered imperial privilege, they sat still until well into the 6th century, the image of the Eastern Roman Emperor on the reverse of the coin. Even after the end of Late Antiquity to 600 of the solidus remained in Ostrom the most important currency. In the late 7th century, when Byzantium or Byzantium had to fight on many fronts for its existence, the fineness has been slightly reduced, but thereafter no longer centuries. Thus, the solidus was the main coin of the Middle Byzantine Empire, where he mostly as nomisma (from Greek nomizein - " believe, trust, for holding something " ) was called. In this form it was until the beginning of the 12th century, the " reserve currency " of all Europe and the Mediterranean. In the West it was called Bezant (of Byzantium ). Only under the Komnenen learned the Byzantine gold then a rapid decline.
From the solidus also the words pay, mercenary soldier and derive. Balance, solid, solidarity and consolidate the other hand, are etymologically directly to the Latin adjective solidus ( " solid, reliable, truthful, quite, loyal " ) due, not to the name of the coin.