Hyperpyron
The hyperpyron was a Byzantine gold coin used from about 1092, replacing the debased solidus. It was created by Emperor Alexios I Komnenos.
It kept the same weight as the old solidus—about 4.45 grams—but it was less pure gold: 20.5 carats (about 85.4% gold). This meant its gold content was lower than before, even though the weight stayed the same.
The hyperpyron stayed the standard gold coin for many years, until gold coins stopped being minted in the mid‑14th century. Over time its gold content fell: 18 carats under the Empire of Nicaea, 15 under Michael VIII Palaiologos, and 12 under Andronikos II Palaiologos. The coins also became less uniform in weight.
The last hyperpyra were minted around 1347–1352 by John VI Kantakouzenos. After that, the term survived only as a unit of account, divided into 24 keratia.
Western Europe and the Balkans kept using the name, often for different coins or money values, and they frequently called it bezant. In the early period the hyperpyron was worth many smaller coins, but as it was debased its value relative to those coins fell. By the 14th century, it was worth about 12 new silver basilikas or hundreds of copper coins, depending on the place.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 17:32 (CET).