Byzantine Tetarteron

The Byzantine tetarteron, introduced in 1042, was essentially a downsized gold coin designed to address rampant inflation by halving the weight of its predecessor.

Weighing around 4 grams and struck from electrum or debased gold, it facilitated everyday trade across the Mediterranean, from Byzantine markets to distant ports. Emperors like Constantine IX used it to stabilize an economy on the brink, though records of exact production volumes vanished long ago—likely burned in some forgotten siege.

Its designs varied, often featuring Christ on one side and the emperor on the other, but variations in die work make each piece a subtle puzzle for the handler.

Sure, some call it the poor relation to the solidus, but that's just coin snobbery.