Medieval Coins — Types, History & Collector Guide
6th–15th Century • European • Byzantine • Islamic • Crusader States
Introduction to Coinage in the Middle Ages
Medieval coins represent a fascinating period in numismatic history. These metal tokens — often small, yet rich in detail — were more than just currency. They reflected the complex social, political, and religious life of the Middle Ages. From kings and emperors to feudal lords and bishops, many used coins to project their power and influence. Unlike modern coins, medieval issues were deeply symbolic: designs included religious motifs, heraldic symbols, and Latin inscriptions that reinforced authority and legitimacy in a fragmented world.
The medieval period spanned roughly from the 6th to the 15th century. During this time, Europe experienced significant shifts in power, belief systems, and economic structures, and the coins of the era evolved to match these changes. Early medieval coins were often crude and thin — struck by hand with limited die preparation. By contrast, later medieval examples became more sophisticated in both design and composition, with better-prepared dies, more consistent weights, and growing artistic ambition.
Regional Traditions and Diverse Designs
Medieval coins varied greatly by region, reflecting the political and cultural fragmentation of the era. In Western Europe, kingdoms like France and England issued coins under royal control. Meanwhile, in the Byzantine Empire, coinage remained centralized and highly detailed — maintaining the gold solidus standard for nearly a thousand years. In Islamic territories, coins featured Arabic calligraphy and geometric patterns, deliberately avoiding human images in accordance with religious tradition.
Minting rights were typically held by kings, bishops, or powerful nobles. This control allowed them to influence currency, determine design, and regulate circulation — making coins tools of power and propaganda as much as instruments of commerce. In some periods, dozens of separate minting authorities operated simultaneously within a single region, creating the extraordinary variety of types and subtypes that makes medieval coin collecting so rewarding for specialists.
European Medieval Coins
English Hammered Silver Pennies
The backbone of medieval English coinage from the 8th through 17th centuries. Anglo-Saxon pennies (pre-1066) and Norman through Tudor hammered pennies offer centuries of design evolution. Key issues include Edward the Confessor types, early Norman pennies, and the long cross pennies of the 13th century. Affordable entry-level medieval silver.
English Gold — Noble, Angel & Sovereign
English medieval gold coinage is among the most visually spectacular of the era. The Edward III Noble (1344) shows the king in a ship — a design representing English naval supremacy. The Angel (from 1465) depicts St. Michael slaying the dragon. The first gold Sovereign (1489, Henry VII) is the direct ancestor of the modern Sovereign.
French Medieval Silver & Gold
French royal coinage from the Capetians through the Valois dynasty spans over 400 years of artistic development. The Gros Tournois (c.1266, Louis IX) was the first large French silver coin and became a template for coinage across Europe. French gold — including the Écu d'Or and Franc à Cheval — is among the most beautiful medieval numismatic art.
Holy Roman Empire & German States
The Holy Roman Empire produced an enormous variety of coinage from dozens of independent princes, bishops, and city-states. Silver bracteates — thin, single-sided coins struck in central Europe from the 12th to 14th centuries — are among the most distinctive medieval coin types, with delicate designs that include knights, castles, eagles, and religious imagery.
Crusader States Coinage
The Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem and other Crusader states struck fascinating hybrid coinage from 1098 to 1291, blending Byzantine and Islamic styles with Western European Christian imagery. Cross and Arabic inscriptions appear alongside traditional Christian imagery. Crusader gold bezants and silver deniers are historically unique coins tied directly to the Holy Land.
Italian City-State Gold — Florin & Ducat
The Florentine Florin (first struck 1252) and the Venetian Ducat (from 1284) became the international gold standards of medieval European trade — the medieval equivalent of today's dollar. Both were struck in high-purity gold with consistent weights for centuries. The Florin's lily and St. John design and the Ducat's Doge kneeling before Christ are among the most recognizable medieval coin types.
Byzantine & Islamic Medieval Coins
Byzantine Gold Solidus
The gold solidus — introduced by Constantine the Great in 312 AD — served as the standard gold coin of the Byzantine Empire for over 700 years. Remarkably consistent in weight and purity throughout its production, it became the foundation of medieval European monetary systems. Christ Pantocrator portraits and imperial imagery make these among the most artistically rich coins of the era.
Byzantine Bronze Follis
The large bronze follis is the most accessible Byzantine coin type for new collectors. Struck in enormous quantities from the 4th through 12th centuries, folles are available in circulated grades at modest prices. Large facing portrait types from Justinian I and his successors are particularly popular. Many carry mint marks identifying their city of origin.
Islamic Gold Dinars — Umayyad & Abbasid
The Umayyad gold dinar (from 696 AD) was the first purely epigraphic Islamic coin — beautiful Arabic calligraphy with no human imagery, as prescribed by Islamic tradition. Struck in high-purity gold with carefully composed Quranic inscriptions, these coins represent a distinct and sophisticated numismatic tradition. Abbasid dinars continued and refined this design language for centuries.
Islamic Silver Dirhams
The silver dirham was the workhorse of Islamic medieval trade from the 7th through 15th centuries. Umayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid, and later dynasties all produced large quantities of silver dirhams featuring Quranic verses, mint names, and ruler names in elegant Arabic calligraphy. A broad and affordable area for collectors interested in the medieval Islamic world.
Fatimid & Ayyubid Gold Dinars
The Fatimid Caliphate (909–1171) and Ayyubid dynasty (Saladin's successors) produced some of the finest Islamic gold coinage of the medieval period. Fatimid dinars are known for their exceptionally fine calligraphy and high purity. Ayyubid coins include issues from Saladin himself — pieces with extraordinary historical resonance for collectors of Crusader-era history.
Viking & Anglo-Saxon Silver Pennies
Viking-age coinage (roughly 793–1066) ranges from Arabic dirhams carried to Scandinavia via trade routes to locally struck Norse and Anglo-Saxon pennies. The Viking Danelaw coins struck in England — including the famous St. Edmund Memorial pennies — are historically significant pieces. Pre-conquest Anglo-Saxon pennies offer the earliest English royal portraiture and are a cornerstone of British numismatics.
Shop Medieval Coins on eBay
Byzantine gold, Islamic silver, English hammered pennies, and Crusader State issues — certified and attributed examples from specialist dealers worldwide.
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Roman Influence on Early Medieval Coins
Initially, medieval coins drew inspiration from their Roman predecessors. Early medieval coins featured images of emperors and influential figures, echoing the numismatic tradition of the Roman Empire. This was a pragmatic approach, facilitating recognition and acceptance in regions that had been part of the Roman Empire or were influenced by its culture. However, as the medieval period progressed, coins began to depart from the Roman model and embrace more distinct regional identities.
The Byzantine Empire maintained the most direct continuity with Roman coinage — the gold solidus was essentially a continuation of the Roman aureus in weight, purity, and concept. Western European kingdoms initially copied Roman designs but gradually developed their own iconographic traditions, incorporating Christian imagery, local heraldry, and vernacular languages alongside the declining use of Latin.
Religious and Political Symbolism
One of the most intriguing aspects of medieval coinage is the way it became a canvas for regional culture, religion, and political authority. Christian kings frequently adorned their coins with images of saints, angels, or religious symbols, aligning their reign with divine approval. This merging of religious and political iconography is a testament to the interwoven nature of church and state during the medieval period.
Islamic coinage took a fundamentally different approach — the prohibition on depicting living beings meant that Islamic coins communicated authority and legitimacy entirely through calligraphy and geometric design. The elegance of Arabic script on Islamic dirhams and dinars represents a distinct and sophisticated tradition that many collectors find as compelling as any portrait-based coinage in the world.
Materials and Economic Shifts
The materials used for minting medieval coins underwent significant changes across the era. In the earlier medieval period, gold and silver were the primary metals. These precious metals conferred intrinsic value and reflected the economic realities of the time. As availability shifted with trade patterns, mining output, and political disruptions, copper and bronze coins gained traction — particularly for small everyday transactions where gold and silver were impractical.
For collectors interested in the broader medieval world, see our guides on Ancient Coins, World Coins, and European Coins.
Where to Buy Medieval Coins
eBay — Byzantine Gold
The largest online marketplace for Byzantine gold solidi and bronze folles. Look for attributed examples with clear emperor identification and honest condition descriptions from specialist dealers.
Shop Byzantine Gold →eBay — English Hammered Coins
Anglo-Saxon, Norman, and later English hammered pennies and gold coins. Wide range from affordable circulated silver to premium key types. Look for clearly attributed, problem-free examples.
Shop Hammered Coins →eBay — Islamic Silver Dirhams
Umayyad, Abbasid, and later Islamic dynasty silver dirhams. One of the most affordable areas of medieval collecting with well-attributed examples available from $50 upward.
Shop Islamic Dirhams →eBay — Crusader State Coins
Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem deniers and bezants — historically unique coins from the era of the Crusades. Hybrid Christian-Islamic designs with strong cross motifs and Arabic-influenced calligraphy.
Shop Crusader Coins →Amazon — Medieval Coin References
Reference books for Byzantine, English hammered, and Islamic coinage. Attribution guides are essential for medieval coin collecting — proper identification significantly affects value.
Browse Reference Books →eBay — Italian Medieval Gold
Florentine florins, Venetian ducats, and other Italian city-state gold — the international trade coins of medieval Europe and among the most historically significant gold issues of the period.
Shop Italian Gold →Frequently Asked Questions
What are medieval coins?
Medieval coins are coinage produced roughly between 500 and 1500 AD across Europe, the Byzantine Empire, the Islamic world, and adjacent regions. They include gold, silver, and bronze coins struck by royal, imperial, ecclesiastical, and civic authorities. Medieval coins range from crude early hammered pennies to the elegantly designed gold solidi of Byzantium and the calligraphic masterpieces of the Islamic caliphates. They are prized by collectors for their historical depth, artistic diversity, and the direct connection they offer to the medieval world.
How much do medieval coins cost?
Entry-level medieval coins — such as common Byzantine bronze folles, Islamic silver dirhams, and English hammered pennies in circulated condition — are available from $50 to $300. Mid-range pieces like attributed English pennies of specific monarchs, Crusader state deniers, and lesser Byzantine gold start at $300–$1,000. Premium medieval gold — English Nobles and Angels, Byzantine gold solidi of notable emperors, Italian florins and ducats — typically runs $1,000–$10,000+. Rare pieces such as early Umayyad dinars or key English gold types can exceed $25,000.
What is the Byzantine gold solidus?
The Byzantine gold solidus was the standard gold coin of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire, introduced by Constantine the Great around 312 AD and maintained with remarkable consistency for nearly 700 years. Struck in approximately 24-karat gold at a consistent weight of about 4.5 grams, it became the monetary standard for medieval European and Middle Eastern trade — so trusted that it earned the nickname "dollar of the Middle Ages." Solidi typically show the emperor in full regalia on the obverse and Christ or religious imagery on the reverse.
Why do Islamic coins have no pictures?
Islamic religious tradition (hadith) discourages the depiction of living beings in art, including coinage. When the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik reformed Islamic coinage in 696 AD, he introduced a purely epigraphic style — coins bearing only Arabic calligraphic text with Quranic phrases, the name of the mint, and the date. This created a distinctive and highly elegant coinage tradition that persisted throughout most of the medieval Islamic world. The beauty of Arabic script on these coins is considered an art form in itself by collectors and scholars.
What is a hammered coin?
A hammered coin is produced by hand — a blank metal disk (flan) is placed between two dies and struck with a hammer to impress the design. This was the standard method of coin production from antiquity through the 17th century, when mechanical milling machinery replaced hand striking. Hammered coins are typically irregular in shape, as the flan was cut by hand from sheet metal and the striking was uneven. This irregularity is a normal characteristic of authentic hammered coins, not a defect, and contributes to their handmade charm.
What should I look for when buying medieval coins?
The most important factors are proper attribution, surface condition, and provenance. Attribution — identifying the specific ruler, mint, and type — is critical because it determines the coin's historical context and value. Surface condition matters greatly: avoid cleaned, chemically treated, or artificially patinated coins. Provenance (documented ownership history) adds value and helps confirm authenticity. For higher-value pieces, look for coins with published references or recognized auction history. Reference books for your area of interest are essential — medieval coin collecting rewards research.
Astronomical Symbols on Ancient and Medieval Coins - More than 550 figures and line drawings of coins, maps, and astronomical events
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