Hyperpyron

The Hyperpyron ( nomisma also Hyperpyron, Greek ὑπέρπυρον, " Super Refined ", plural Hyperpyra ), was since the monetary reform of 1092 I. under Emperor Alexios Komnenos embossed as Skyphat Byzantine gold coin, the successor to the Histamenon (also Stamenon nomisma called ) as the standard gold coin took.

At the time of the Emperor Romanus IV ( 1068-1071 ) the solidus had been degraded to a gold content of only 15 percent. Under Alexius I, the deteriorated solidus or Histamenon were abolished, and the Hyperpyron, a new gold coin with a grade of initially 900 to 950 thousandths introduced ( 21.6 to 22.8 carats). It weighed 4.5 g as the solidus, was slightly smaller in diameter, and later had a purity of 21 carat alloy corresponding to a ratio of 21 parts of gold to 3 parts other metal ( 875/1000 ). A Hyperpyron corresponded to 3 electron - Aspron trachea or 48 Billon - Aspron trachea.

The Hyperpyron remained until the end of the Byzantine Empire in 1453 in circulation, although it was also frequently deteriorated in the second half of the 14th century. 1341 Hyper Peron was last marked as a gold coin, then as a silver coin. In Greece, were already running from the 13th century, mainly British Sterling, and especially French deniers tournois to. Venice abolished in 1353 for its colonial empire own silver coin.

After 1400 were Italian coins as the predominant means of payment in place of the Byzantine coins that were meaningless.