Byzantine Golden Cross Coin Pendant

Coin: Gold Solidus
Obverse: Tiberius II Constantine
Reverse: Cross on Four Steps
Date: 578 - 582 A.D.
Bezel: 14k Gold
Weight:  6.25 g
Diameter: 22 mm / .86 inches

Description

This item is an authentic Byzantine Empire coin, placed in a handmade bezel of Sterling Silver. There is only 1 of this item; you will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos.  

Chain necklaces can be purchased separately through this link.

History of the Artifact

This gold solidus was struck between 578 and 582 A.D., during the reign of Tiberius II Constantine, emperor of the Byzantine Empire. The obverse shows Tiberius facing forward, crowned and robed in imperial attire, holding a globus cruciger in his right hand — the orb surmounted by a cross that symbolized Christ’s dominion over the world. His image projects divine authority and continuity with the Roman imperial legacy, blending political power with Christian devotion. Tiberius’s rule came at a time of renewed strength for Byzantium, marked by military campaigns on multiple fronts and reforms intended to stabilize the empire’s finances and secure its borders.

The reverse depicts a cross standing on four steps, one of the most powerful religious symbols in Byzantine art. The design proclaims the triumph of Christianity and the emperor’s role as its earthly protector. The purity of its gold and the precision of its engraving made the solidus the standard of Byzantine wealth and prestige across Europe and the Near East. This coin, minted at Constantinople, would have circulated among high officials or been used in imperial payments and gifts — a gleaming statement of faith, authority, and the enduring power of the Byzantine state.

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

You will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos.

Gold solidi of Tiberius II Constantine come from the late sixth century, a time when the Byzantine Empire still commanded vast wealth and influence from its capital at Constantinople. These coins were struck at the imperial mint there, which was the heart of Byzantine monetary production, though smaller issues were also produced in major provincial cities such as Thessalonica and Carthage to supply regional economies and armies. The solidus was the empire’s standard gold coin, prized for its consistent purity and weight, and it served as the foundation of Byzantine and later medieval commerce for centuries.

Many examples of these coins have been recovered from hoards buried during periods of invasion and unrest, particularly in the Balkans, Anatolia, and the eastern Mediterranean. The high gold content has allowed them to survive the centuries with their luster intact, as gold does not corrode or tarnish. Modern specimens typically come from reputable dealers, archaeological finds, or established European collections and auctions. Each surviving solidus represents not just imperial wealth, but the enduring stability of Byzantine coinage — the most trusted currency of the ancient and early medieval world.