Gold Girdle With Coins and Medallions in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, March 2010

Gold Girdle with Coins and Medallions
Byzantine, found in 1902, at Karavas, Cyprus
Made about 583; reassembled after discovery

Accession Numbers: 17.190.147 and 1991.136

This incomplete, massive gold girdle comprised of a series of solidi (gold coins) and medallions may have been worn as an insignia of office. The four medallions depicting the emperor Maurice Tiberius (r. 582-602) probably were minted for him to present as gifts to high officials and nobles when he assumed the office of consul in 583. All the coins are stamped CONOB (Constantinopolis obryzum, ie., pure gold of Constantinople), indicating that they were minted in the capital city. Joined with nine coins of Maurice Tiberius on the girdle is one of Theodosius II (r. 402-50) and four of the brief joint rule of Justin I and Justinian in 527.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.