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The solidus (the Latin word for ''solid'') was originally a gold coin issued in the Late Roman Empire, and a weight for gold more generally, corresponding to 4.5 grams. It was widely propagated in 312 AD by Constantine I and replaced the older Aureus as the main gold denomination. ==Roman and Byzantine coinage== Although the ''solidus'' (plural ''solidi'') was introduced by Diocletian in 301 AD, it only entered widespread circulation under Constantine I in 312 AD, permanently replacing the aureus as the gold coin of the Roman Empire.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://dorchesters.com/reproduction-coins/roman-coins/solidus )〕 The solidus was struck at a rate of 72 to a Roman pound (of about 328.9 g) of pure gold; each coin weighed 24 Greco-Roman carats,〔Porteous 1969〕 or about 4.5 grams of gold per coin. By this time, the solidus was worth 275,000 increasingly debased denarii. The solidus was maintained essentially unaltered in weight, dimensions and purity until the 10th century. During the 6th and 7th centuries "lightweight" solidi of 20, 22 or 23 ''siliquae'' (one ''siliqua'' was 1/24 of a solidus) were struck along with the standard weight issues, presumably for trade purposes or to pay tribute. Many of these lightweight coins have been found in Europe, Russia and Georgia. The lightweight solidi were distinguished by different markings on the coin, usually in the exergue for the 20 and 22 ''siliquae'' coins and by stars in the field for the 23 ''siliquae'' coins. In theory the solidus was struck from pure gold, but because of the limits of refining techniques, in practice the coins were often about 23k fine (95.8% gold). In the Greek-speaking world during the Roman period, and then in the Byzantine economy, the solidus was known as the νόμισμα ''nomisma'' (plural ''nomismata'').〔Porteous 1969〕 In the 10th century Emperor Nicephorus II Phocas (963–969) introduced a new lightweight gold coin called the ''tetarteron nomisma'' that circulated alongside the solidus, and from that time the solidus (''nomisma'') became known as the ἱστάμενον νόμισμα ''histamenon nomisma'' in the Greek speaking world. Initially it was difficult to distinguish the two coins, as they had the same design, dimensions and purity, and there were no marks of value to distinguish the denominations. The only difference was the weight. The ''tetarteron nomisma'' was a lighter coin, about 4.05 grams, but the ''histamenon nomisma'' maintained the traditional weight of 4.5 grams. To eliminate confusion between the two, from the reign of Basil II (975–1025) the solidus (''histamenon nomisma'') was struck as a thinner coin with a larger diameter, but with the same weight and purity as before. From the middle of the 11th century the larger diameter ''histamenon nomisma'' was struck on a concave flan, though the smaller ''tetarteron nomisma'' continued to be struck on a smaller flat flan. Former money changer Michael IV the Paphlagonian (1034–41) assumed the throne of Byzantium in 1034 and began the slow process of debasing both the ''tetarteron nomisma'' and the ''histamenon nomisma''. The debasement was gradual at first, but then accelerated rapidly: about 21 carats (87.5% pure) during the reign of Constantine IX (1042–1055), 18 carats (75%) under Constantine X (1059–1067), 16 carats (66.7%) under Romanus IV (1068–1071), 14 carats (58%) under Michael VII (1071–1078), 8 carats (33%) under Nicephorus III (1078–1081) and 0 to 8 carats during the first eleven years of the reign of Alexius I (1081–1118). Alexius reformed the coinage in 1092 and eliminated the solidus (''histamenon nomisma'') altogether. In its place he introduced a new gold coin called the ''hyperpyron nomisma'' at about 20.5k fine (85%). The weight, dimensions and purity of the ''hyperpyron nomisma'' remained stable until the fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders in 1204. After that time the exiled Empire of Nicea continued to strike a debased ''hyperpyron nomisma''. Michael VIII recaptured Constantinople in 1261, and the Byzantine Empire continued to strike the debased ''hyperpyron nomisma'' until the joint reign of John V and John VI (1347–1354). After that time the ''hyperpyron nomisma'' continued as a unit of account, but it was no longer struck in gold. From the 4th to the 11th centuries, ''solidi'' were minted mostly at the Constantinople Mint, but also in Thessalonica, Trier, Rome, Milan, Ravenna, Syracuse, Alexandria, Carthage, Jerusalem and other cities. During the 8th and 9th centuries the Syracuse mint produced a large number of ''solidi'' that failed to meet the specifications of the coins produced by the imperial mint in Constantinople. The Syracuse ''solidi'' were generally lighter (about 3.8g) and only 19k fine (79% pure). Although imperial law forbade merchants from exporting solidi outside imperial territory, many solidi have been found in Russia, Central Europe, Georgia, and Syria. In the 7th century they became a desirable circulating currency in Arabian countries. Since the solidi circulating outside the empire were not used to pay taxes to the emperor, they did not get reminted, and the soft pure-gold coins quickly became worn.〔Porteous 1969〕 Through the end of the 7th century, Arabian copies of solidi — dinars minted by the caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, who had access to supplies of gold from the upper Nile — began to circulate in areas outside the Byzantine Empire. These corresponded in weight to only , but matched the weight of the lightweight (20 ''siliquae'') solidi that were circulating in those areas. The two coins circulated together in these areas for a time.〔Porteous 1969〕 The solidus was not marked with any face value throughout its seven-century manufacture and circulation. Fractions of the solidus known as ''semissis'' (half-solidi) and ''tremissis'' (one-third solidi) were also produced. The word ''soldier'' is ultimately derived from ''solidus'', referring to the solidi with which soldiers were paid.〔 〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Solidus (coin)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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