# Solidus (Coin) of Tiberius II

- By: Byzantine (now istanbul, Turkey)
- Date: 574–582
- Medium: Gold
- Classification: Coin
- Dimensions: Diam.: 2 cm (13/16 in.)
- Culture: Byzantine Empire
- Credit line: Gift of Emily Crane Chadbourne
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/36634)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/97cd4887-f173-f917-b3de-e89110e44a8f/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Coins were an ideal way for Byzantine emperors to circulate their images throughout the empire and beyond, since they were used to pay for imported merchandise and to pay foreign mercenaries. They could also be employed as powerful vehicles for propaganda, promoting dynastic succession and emphasizing the earthly emperor’s god-given right to rule. Tiberius had an image of a monumental cross in Jerusalem placed on the back of his coin.

This coin is a gold solidi weighing 4.5 grams. From the fourth century on, the solidus was the preferred gold coin issued by Byzantine emperors. The solidus remained essentially unaltered in weight and purity until the tenth century.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0