Reference Material

Reference information for Byzantine and related coinage has come of age.  There are now enough references available to provide for a excellent compilation of information.  The only problem is that some of the information is duplicative, while other information is selectively available.  I have broken the material into several groups: Books; Periodicals; and Auction and Fixed Price Catalogs, both past and present. The prices that I have given are general approximations, each item may cost a little more or a little less. Most of the books and some of the auction catalogs are available (either immediately or periodically) either through ancient coin dealers or some of the numismatic literature dealers.

Books on Late Roman, Byzantine and Imitative Coinage

Title Author When Importance Availability Cost Comments
Archaeological Exploration of Sardis - Byzantine Coins Bates 1971 Could Have Out of Print $100.00 Archaeological study of the excavation of the city of Sardis
The Barbaric Tremissis in Spain and Southern France - Anastasius to Leovigild - ANS NNM #152 Tomasini 1964 Should Have Out of Print $50.00 A work still referenced in many listings.
Biographical Dictionary of the Byzantine Empire Nicol 1994 Should Have Available $40.00 A historical and biographical listing of names during the period of 330 - 1453.
Byzantine and Early Medieval Western European Coins in the Hunter Coin Cabinet Bateson & Campbell 1998 Could Have Available $100.00 Nice reference of a major collection
Byzantine Coins Whitting 1973 Should Have Out of Print $50.00 Interesting and complete historical prospective on Byzantine coinage
Byzantine Coins Grierson 1982 Must Have Out of Print $100.00 Interesting and complete historical prospective on Byzantine coinage with some wonderful plates.
Byzantine Coins and Their Values Sear & Bendall 1987 Must Have Available $100.00 Industry standard reference, pricing is not all together accurate
Byzantine Coin Values Rynearson 1971 Could Have Out of Print $25.00 A basic rarity rating guide (outdated)
Byzantine Numismatic Bibliography - Volumes 1-2 Malter 1968-95 Should Have Available $25.00 A nice reference of available books and articles on Byzantine coinage
Catalogue des Monnaies Byzantine Morrisson 1970 Could Have Out of Print $150.00 In French, major reference of the collection of the Bibliotheque National - Paris
Civilisation et Monnaies Byzantines Lacam 1974 Could Have Out of Print $125.00 In French, introduction, nice plates
Coinage of the Byzantine Empire Goodacre 1928 Could Have Out of Print $75.00 Nice introduction, somewhat out dated.
Coinage of the Ostrogoths, Visigoths and Lombards in the British Museum Wroth 1911 Could Have Out of Print $250.00 Major reference of the imitative coinage in the British Museum
The Coinage of the Visigoths in Spain Leovigild to Achila II - ANS HNS #2 Miles 1952 Should Have Out of Print $75.00 The definitive reference for Visigothic coinage in Spain.
Description Generale des Monnaies Byzantines Frappees sous les Empereurs d'Orient depuis Arcadius jusq'a la prise de Constantinople par Mahomet II - Volumes 1-2 Sabatier 1862 Should Have Out of Print $2000.00 In French, the original reference for Byzantine coinage. Has been reprinted twice, and those can be purchased for about $150.00.
Dumbarton Oaks Byzantine Coins - Volumes 1-5 Bellinger, Grierson & Hendy 1966-99 Must Have Available $1000.00 Major technical reference of the collection of Dumbarton Oaks and Whittmore.
Description Generale des Monnaies Merovingiennes - Volume 1-5 Depeyrot 1996 Should Have Available $500.00 In French, an incredible reference on Merovingian coinage.
Dumbarton Oaks Late Roman Coins Grierson & Mays 1992 Must Have Available $100.00 Major technical reference of the collection of Dumbarton Oaks and Whittmore
The Emperors of Rome and Byzantium Sear 1974 Should Have Out of Print $25.00 A wonderful reference to the sometime confusing issue of chronological sequencing of accession.
Introduction to East Roman (Byzantine) Coinage Lhotka 1989 Could Have Available $15.00 A very basic guide and introduction to Byzantine coinage
Imperial Coins of the Byzantine Empire in the British Museum - BMC - Volumes 1-2 Wroth 1908 Should Have Out of Print $500.00 Major reference of the coins in the British Museum, reprint available ($100.00)
La Monetazione Aurea Delle Zecche Minori Bizantine Prina 1972 Could Have Out of Print $100.00 In Italian, minor reference
La Fin de L'Empire Roman et le Monnayage or en Italie - Volumes 1-2 Lacam 1983 Could Have Available $250.00 In French, interesting work on the Late Roman gold coinage and imitative coinage of Italy during the 5th century
Late Roman and Byzantine Solidi found in Sweden and Denmark - ANS NNM #157 Fagerlie 1967 Could Have Out of Print $75.00 Interesting work on the hoards and single coins found in Sweden and Denmark. Interesting imitative pieces.
The Later Palaeologan Coinage Bendall & Donald 1979 Should Have Available $25.00 The standard reference of the final coinage of the Byzantines.
Light Weight Solidi and Byzantine Trade during the Sixth and Seventh Centuries - ANS NNM#138 Adelson 1957 Should Have Out of Print $25.00 Though a little outdated, a neat reference about light weight solidi and their purpose.
Medieval European Coinage, Volume 1: The Early Middle Ages (5th - 10th Centuries) Grierson & Blackburn 1987 Should Have Available $200.00 A superb introduction and reference on imitative coinage.
Moneta Imperii Byzantini Hahn 1973-81 Must Have Out of Print $900.00 In German, a major compilation reference of most national collections
Moneta Imperii Romani - Byzantini Hahn 1989 Must Have Out of Print $100.00 In German, a follow-up reference with information about late Roman coinage
Money of the Incipient Byzantine Empire (Anastastius I - Justinian I, 491-565) Hahn & Metlich 2000 NEW Must Have Available $60.00 A English revision of the first volume of Moneta Imperii Byzantini.  Up to date and an extremely valuable reference. There is also a companion Windows compatible CD-ROM that has a wonderful coin identification program.  Extremely useful.
Monnaies Byzantines Tolstoi 1914 Should Have Out of Print $2500.00 In French, an unfinished but still important reference based of the collection in the Hermitage. Has been reprinted ($250.00).
Monnaies des Empires de Byzance - Collection of N.K. - Volumes 1-2 Boutin 1983 Should Have Out of Print $100.00 In French, an excellent private collection that was published before its sale.
The Numismatic Iconography of Justinian II - ANS NNM #144 Breckenridge 1959 Should Have Out of Print $25.00 An interesting historical piece with nice plates.
Roman Gold Coins of the Medieval World Berk 1986 Must Have Available $30.00 Nice illustrations with somewhat realistic pricing, but limited in scope to just over 300 coins
Roman Imperial Coinage - Volumes VII - X (at least) Many Authors 1923-94 Should Have Available $550.00 A very technical reference of Roman coinage (volumes VII-X) cover the period of Constantine I through Zeno, with some coverage of imitative pieces. The entire set (volumes I-X) can generally be purchased for around $1000.00.
Studies of Early Byzantine Gold Coinage - ANS NS#17 Hahn & Metcalf 1988 Should Have Available $75.00 Scholarly information on several topics, including Monte Judica Hoard

Periodicals

Name Issued Subscription Rate Telephone Number Comments
The Celator Monthly $27.00 for 12 Issues in U.S. 417-679-2142 The Ancient coin periodical for the United States. A wonderful magazine with neat articles and most ancient coin dealer advertisements. An absolute must.
Coins and Antiquities (Now discontinued, but back issues are still available and desirable. 10-02-99) Monthly £51.00 for 12 Issues in U.S. 011-44-1376-521900 A new periodical out of London that also has neat articles and advertisements from most ancient coin dealers.

Important Auction Catalogs

Dealer Sale Title When Importance Comments
Ratto Monnaies Byzantines December 9, 1930 Must Have Rodolfo Ratto's personal collection of Byzantine, late Roman and imitative pieces. An excellent work that is a basic reference. Has been reprinted and is available for around $75.00.
Bank Leu #15 May 5, 1976 Should Have Incredible sale of major rarities, I own several of the coins but not the catalog.
Numismatic Fine Arts Sale XVIII March 31, 1987 Should Have Part II of this sale is the collection of Dr. Guy Lacam. While the prices realized are somewhat suspect, it is still an excellant reference.
Berk & England Byzantine Coins December 7, 1989 Could Have An extremely nice bronze collection, that can be used as the basis of a realistic pricing reference.
Sotheby's Hunt Collection December 5, 1990 & June 21, 1991 Must Have Actually two sales. The most comprehensive sale since Ratto and most likely even better. The prices realized were incredible and some of the coins recently resold for much less than they were sold for in these sales.
Richelieu N.K. Collection October 27, 1992 Should Have The auction for the above mentioned book, by Boutin.
CNG Classical Coins - Sale XXVIII December 8, 1993 Could Have An auction of two old time collections that were formed into one auction. Some interesting pieces of varing quality.
A.H. Baldwin's Conte Collection October 5, 1994 Could Have A 200+ lot auction of important late Roman and Byzantine coins, many acquired from the Hunt Sale. Great plates.
A.H. Baldwin's Donald Collection October 11, 1995 Could Have A 250+ lot auction of Byzantine coinage, leaning more towards common coins.
CNG - Freeman Sear - Numismatica Ars Classica Triton I Sale December 2. 1997 Should Have An impressive catalog for all ancient coin disciplines, but especially for late Roman gold and early Byzantine gold. Many pieces are illustrated here that were previously unknown or are unique.
Sotheby's An Important Private Collection of Byzantine Coins November 2, 1998 Must Have Basically all of the coins from Harlan Berk's book, plus additions from the Hunt sale and many western pieces from the O'Hara collection.