Middle Ages Silver coin

in byzantine empire, left of eastern roman empire, currency system reorganised, coinage consisted of copper , gold. silver miliaresion developed, cross on steps obverse , inscription forming reverse. later, cup-shaped (or scyphate ) trachy issued, silver content of these rapidly declined towards few per cent, ending pure copper coin after fourth crusade (13th century).

with mohammed s revolution in arabian peninsula, new state created in 622. after death of mohammed (632), state governed caliphs, named caliphate . caliphate expanded byzantine territories northwest , conquered sassanian (persian) empire northeast, question of caliphal coinage became imminent. caliphate adapted sassanian drachm silver coin. initially, arabic inscriptions added sassanian coin type. later, type revised, include inscriptions , ornaments only. (depictions of human beings prohibited according sunni islam). these coins known in arabic dirhems. dirhems of caliphate gained wide acceptance. consequently found along trading routes in ukraine, russia , scandinavia.

dirham minted in name of aghlabid ruler ibrahim (800-812) , abbasid caliph al-ma mun (813-832). similar regular abbasid dirhams showing signs of emerging independent coin types.

as power balance within caliphate changed (weaker central power), names of local leaders, or feudal lords, increasingly indicated on dirhems. various arabic dynasties continued issue dirhems centuries after demise of classical caliphates. there great variety of types, although retaining inscriptions , ornaments formula.

in medieval europe (outside byzantine empire), coinage complex, types different 1 (small) region another. in regions, coin types became commonly accepted coin type in inter-regional trade. instance, silver sceattas popular type of coin in england, netherlands , frisian region. penny popular interregional silver coin, being known in several different languages penny (english), pfennig (german) , penning (scandinavian languages). medieval coin types suffered gradual debasement, , coins small. changed when great amounts of silver began flow europe new world.