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(r. 1143–1180), showing its typical scyphate (cup-shaped) form.]]The hyperpyron (, nómisma hypérpyron ) Hyperpyron in "The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium", Oxford Reference, Retrieved 24 February 2025 was a Byzantine Empire coin in use during the late Middle Ages, replacing the solidus as the Byzantine Empire's standard gold coinage in the 11th century. It was introduced by emperor Alexios I Komnenos.
The hyperpyron remained the standard gold coin until gold coins ceased to be minted by the Byzantines in the mid-14th century. It too, however, was subject to gradual debasement: under the Empire of Nicaea (1204–1261), its gold content fell gradually to 18 carats, under Michael VIII Palaiologos ( 1259–1282) to 15 and under his son and successor Andronikos II Palaiologos ( 1282–1328) to 12 carats. At the same time, the quality of the coins declined as well, and in the 14th century, their weight was far from uniform.. The last hyperpyra, and thus the last Byzantine gold coins, were struck by Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos ( 1347–1352). The name remained in use thereafter solely as a money of account, divided into 24 .; .
The name was adopted in various forms by Western Europeans (, ) and the Slavs countries of the Balkans ( perper, iperpero, etc.) designating various coins, usually silver, as well as moneys of account.. More often in the West the hyperpyron was called the bezant, especially among Italian merchants.
In the early Komnenian period, the hyperpyron was the equivalent of three electrum trachea, 48 billon trachea or 864 copper , although with the debasement of the trachea it eventually came to rate 12 electrum trachea and 288 to 384 billon trachea.. In the 14th century, the hyperpyron equalled 12 of the new silver basilikon, 96 , 384 copper trachea and 768 copper assarion..
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