# Hyperpyron

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Late Byzantine coin

*Hyperpyron* of Emperor [Manuel I Komnenos](/source/Manuel_I_Komnenos) (r. 1143–1180), showing its typical [scyphate](/source/Scyphate) (cup-shaped) form.

The ***hyperpyron*** ([Greek](/source/Greek_language): νόμισμα ὑπέρπυρον, *nómisma hypérpyron* lit. 'highly refined')[1] was a [Byzantine](/source/Byzantine_Empire) coin in use during the [late Middle Ages](/source/Late_Middle_Ages), replacing the *[solidus](/source/Solidus_(coin))* as the [Byzantine Empire](/source/Byzantine_Empire)'s standard gold coinage in the 11th century. It was introduced by emperor [Alexios I Komnenos](/source/Alexios_I_Komnenos).

## History

The traditional gold currency of the Byzantine Empire had been the *[solidus](/source/Solidus_(coin))* or *[nomisma](/source/Nomisma)*, whose gold content had remained steady at 24 [carats](/source/Carat_(purity)) for seven centuries and was consequently highly prized. From the 1030s, however, the coin was increasingly [debased](/source/Debasement), until in the 1080s, following the military disasters and civil wars of the previous decade, its gold content was reduced to almost zero.[2] Consequently, in 1092, Emperor [Alexios I Komnenos](/source/Alexios_I_Komnenos) (r. 1081–1118) undertook a drastic overhaul of the [Byzantine coinage](/source/Byzantine_coinage) system and introduced a new gold coin, the *hyperpyron* (meaning "super-refined"). This was of the same standard weight (4.45 [grams](/source/Gram)) as the *solidus*, but only 20.5 carat purity (0.854 fineness) instead of the standard 24 carat, resulting in a reduced gold content of only 4.1 [grams](/source/Gram) instead of 4.8 grams. The lower purity was due to melting down and inclusion of earlier debased coins.[3]

The *hyperpyron* remained the standard gold coin until gold coins ceased to be minted by the Byzantines in the mid-14th century. It too, however, was subject to gradual debasement: under the [Empire of Nicaea](/source/Empire_of_Nicaea) (1204–1261), its gold content fell gradually to 18 carats, under [Michael VIII Palaiologos](/source/Michael_VIII_Palaiologos) (r. 1259–1282) to 15 and under his son and successor [Andronikos II Palaiologos](/source/Andronikos_II_Palaiologos) (r. 1282–1328) to 12 carats. At the same time, the quality of the coins declined as well, and in the 14th century, their weight was far from uniform.[4] The last *hyperpyra*, and thus the last Byzantine gold coins, were struck by Emperor [John VI Kantakouzenos](/source/John_VI_Kantakouzenos) (r. 1347–1352). The name remained in use thereafter solely as a [money of account](/source/Money_of_account), divided into 24 *[keratia](/source/Keration)*.[5]

The name was adopted in various forms by Western Europeans ([Latin](/source/Latin_language): *perperum*, [Italian](/source/Italian_language): *perpero*) and the [Slavic](/source/Slavs) countries of the [Balkans](/source/Balkans) (*perper*, *iperpero*, etc.) designating various coins, usually [silver](/source/Silver), as well as moneys of account.[6] More often in the West the *hyperpyron* was called the *[bezant](/source/Bezant)*, especially among Italian merchants.

In the early [Komnenian period](/source/Komnenian_period), the *hyperpyron* was the equivalent of three [electrum](/source/Electrum) *[trachea](/source/Trachy_(currency))*, 48 [billon](/source/Billon_(alloy)) *trachea* or 864 [copper](/source/Copper) *[tetartera](/source/Tetarteron)*, although with the debasement of the *trachea* it eventually came to rate 12 electrum *trachea* and 288 to 384 billon *trachea*.[7] In the 14th century, the *hyperpyron* equalled 12 of the new silver *[basilika](/source/Basilikon)*, 96 *[tournesia](/source/Tornese)*, 384 copper *trachea* and 768 copper *[assaria](/source/Assarion)*.[8]

## See also

- [Medieval Bulgarian coinage](/source/Medieval_Bulgarian_coinage)

- [Montenegrin perper](/source/Montenegrin_perper)

- [Ragusan perpera](/source/Ragusan_perpera)

- [Serbian perper](/source/Serbian_perper)

## Citations

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Hyperpyron](https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095954839) in "[The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium](/source/The_Oxford_Dictionary_of_Byzantium)", *Oxford Reference*, Retrieved 24 February 2025

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Grierson 1999](#CITEREFGrierson1999), p. 10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Grierson 1999](#CITEREFGrierson1999), p. 11; [Kazhdan 1991](#CITEREFKazhdan1991), p. 964.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Grierson 1999](#CITEREFGrierson1999), pp. 11–12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Grierson 1999](#CITEREFGrierson1999), p. 12; [Kazhdan 1991](#CITEREFKazhdan1991), pp. 964–965.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Kazhdan 1991](#CITEREFKazhdan1991), p. 965.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Grierson 1999](#CITEREFGrierson1999), p. 44.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Grierson 1999](#CITEREFGrierson1999), p. 45.

## General and cited sources

- Grierson, Philip (1999). [*Byzantine Coinage*](https://web.archive.org/web/20131214000115/http://www.doaks.org/resources/publications/doaks-online-publications/byzantine-coinage). Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-88402-274-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-88402-274-9). Archived from [the original](http://www.doaks.org/resources/publications/doaks-online-publications/byzantine-coinage) on 2013-12-14.

- [Kazhdan, Alexander](/source/Alexander_Kazhdan), ed. (1991). *[The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium](/source/The_Oxford_Dictionary_of_Byzantium)*. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-504652-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-504652-6).

## Further reading

- Grierson, Philip (1982). [*Byzantine Coins*](https://books.google.com/books?id=_kpOCsoUwksC). London: Methuen. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-416-71360-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-416-71360-2).

- Hendy, Michael F. (1989). [*The Economy, Fiscal Administration and Coinage of Byzantium*](https://books.google.com/books?id=xjxoAAAAMAAJ). London: Variorum Reprints. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-86078-253-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-86078-253-0).

- Hendy, Michael F. (1985). [*Studies in the Byzantine Monetary Economy c. 300–1450*](https://books.google.com/books?id=STZV-gc--04C). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-521-24715-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-521-24715-2).

## External links

- Media related to [Hyperpyron](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Hyperpyron) at Wikimedia Commons

v t e Currencies of the Byzantine Empire First period (498 – ca. 700) Gold Solidus Semissis Tremissis Silver Hexagram (from 615) Copper Follis Half-follis Decanummium Pentanummium Nummus Second period (ca. 700 – 1092) Gold Solidus or Nomisma (later Histamenon) Tetarteron (from 960s) Silver Miliaresion (from 720) Copper Follis Third period (1092 – ca. 1300) Gold Hyperpyron Electrum Nomisma trachy aspron (Trikephalon/Manouelaton) Billon aspron trachy (Stamenon) Copper Tetarteron Half-tetarteron Fourth period (ca. 1300 – 1350s) Gold Hyperpyron Silver Basilikon Billon Tournesion (Politikon) Copper Trachy Assarion Fifth period (1367 – 1453) Silver Stavraton Half-stavraton Doukatopoulon (Aspron) Copper Tournesion Follaro Related topics Byzantine economy Byzantine mints Scyphate Byzantine Empire Portal Numismatics Portal

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