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Message:: [QUOTE="Valentinian, post: 3122153, member: 44316"]Justinian (527-565) reformed the copper coinage, introducing in his year 12 a huge new type with a facing bust where the bust had been in profile before. The reformed coin is often 40 mm and sometimes up to 42 mm in diameter with "XII" in the reverse to the right of the "M" which is "40" in Greek for the denomination--40 nummia.  He had a long reign and coins of his year 39 are known. As time passed, inflation gradually reduced the size. Here is one from the Nikomedia mint from year (ANNO) XXXI = 31 (557/8 AD). [ATTACH=full]794632[/ATTACH] Sear 201, year 31, officina A.32-31 mm. 15.17 grams. 6:00 die axis (Most Byzantine AE has 6:00 die axis or close to it.) It is smaller than the earlier pieces, but still larger than a US half-dollar (which is only 30.6 mm and 11.34 grams) If you show an ancient coin to an friend who is unfamiliar with ancient coins, a very big coin is sure to impress. Ptolemaic copper "man-hole covers" fill the bill. So do coins from this series under Justinian. Show us a coin that will impress someone who is not initiated into the club.[/QUOTE]