Why Medieval Coins Look So Different From Ancient Coins

87redcivic

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https://youtu.be/vj_13kelQWE?si=1IstIgo87LrCqU9B

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Sapyx

Other contributing factors added to the differences in shape and style, including the changing way that money was handled.

As Roman coinage degenerated into base-metal, the link between "precious metal content" and "face value of coin as money" broke down. As such, the coin itself, rather than the silver it contained, became the most important thing to keep track of. And so, a significant aspect was the invention of the concept of counting coins individually, rather than in bulk by weight. And a quick, easy way to count coins is to stack them on top of each other to make a nice tidy pile.

Coins counted by weight needed to be "easy to pour" into a weighing pan, so a very ovoid, high-relief shape like an Athenian tetradrachm or even an early Roman denarius works best. But such a shape cannot be easily stacked on top of each other for ready counting. Those of you who actually own "a handful of ancient coins" of all the same denomination, try stacking them up to count them and you'll find it's impossible - the pile of coins topples over if it's more than 2 coins high. Thus, one reason coins in the Late Roman and Byzantine period became flatter, was to allow for easier counting and stacking. Mediaeval coins simply took that concept of "flat coins = good" and extrapolated it to its logical conclusion.

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