Unpublished Byzantine hoards of billon trachea from Greek Macedonia and Thrace

Abstract

The author presents for the first time a number of unpublished late 12thearly 13th hoard material of billon trachea (bronze scyphate) from various regions of Greek Macedonia and Thrace deposited in the Numismatic Cabinet at Athens, in the Archaeological Museums of Thessaloniki and Kavala and in the Archaeological Collection of Kozani. Partially recorded hoards from the same area have been considered as well in order to provide a fuller picture of the circulation and the distribution of coinage in this part of the Balkan Peninsula.
The first part of the article deals with the discussion of analysis, data and conclusions obtained through examination of coin-types and patterns in comparison with hoard evidence from Yugoslavia, Turkey, Bulgaria, mainland Greece and the Aegean Islands. A General List appended to the end and containing a detailed catalogue of the hoard material under examination aims in helping in the future for any
further reference when combined with the corresponding one registered by M. Hendy in his book Coinage and Money in the Byzantine Empire (1081-1261) Wash. 1969. Eight comparative tables show the proportional occurance of the various coin-types and help in demonstrating the probable deposition date of the hoards.