Hexagram (currency)

The hexagram (Greek: ἑξάγραμμα, hexagramma) was a large silver coin of the Byzantine Empire issued primarily during the 7th century AD.

[1] Only under Emperor Heraclius (r. 610–641), in 615, were new silver coins minted to cover the needs of the war with Sassanid Persia.

[2][3] The Hexagrams uniquely carried the inscription of Deus adiuta Romanis or "May God help the Romans"; It is believed that this shows the desperation of the empire at this time.

[4] The coin remained in regular issue under Heraclius's successor Constans II (r. 641–668), from whose reign many specimens survive, but becomes rarer for Constantine IV (r. 668–685), and thereafter seems to have been only occasionally minted as a ceremonial coin until Theodosius III (r.

[5] In 720 Emperor Leo III the Isaurian (r. 717–741) issued a new silver coin, the miliaresion.