Histamenon

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Histamenon of Constantine VIII.
Histamenon of Constantine VIII.

Histamenon was the name given to the solidus when the Tetarteron was created.

In the early ninth century, a three-fourths-weight solidus was issued in parallel with a full-weight solidus, both preserving the standard of fineness, under a failed plan to force the market to accept the underweight coins at the value of the full weight coins. The three-fourths weight coin was called a Tetarteron (Gk, 'fourth-er'), and the full weight solidus was called the Histamenon.

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