In a larger context the Byzantine empire as such could be said to have started when the ancient city of Byzantium was renamed Constantinople by Constantine I and made a political axis on a par with Rome. Numismatic historians, however, classify Anastasius as the last Roman Emperor and the first Byzantine one. Although he considered himself "Roman", along with all future Byzantine emperors, his choice in 498 to discard the then monetary system in favor of a new, more Greek-aligned one was a lasting landmark of profound significance. Culturally, the Byzantines were always Greek under their skin and as the influence of the Romans waned there was ever less reason to reflect what to them was a foreign culture even at an official level. Within another hundred years most distinctly Roman traits had been supplanted by the new zeitgeist which better served, after all, a Greek citizenry.
During his reign he consolidated power in what was left of the eastern half of the empire and gave up for lost the barbarian-infested western one. To his credit, he was a shrewd administrator and settled several favorable trade treaties which started off the Byzantine period on sound financial footing.
AU Solidus
SB 3, Hahn 4a.1, DO 3i Solidus Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding spear over shoulder and shield. Rev: VICTORIAAVGGGI Exe: /CONOB - Victory standing left, holding cross.
SB 14, MIB 22 Follis Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Draped, dressed bust right. Rev: Large M Exe: CON - Cross above M. 498-507 (Constantinopolis).
SB 17 Follis Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Draped, dressed bust right. Rev: Large M Exe: CON - Cross above, to left. 498-518 (Constantinopolis). SB 18 Follis Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: Large M over Exe: CON - Cross above and on either side. 498-518 (Constantinopolis). SB 19, DOC I 23 Follis Obv: DNANASTASIVSPFAVG - Draped, dressed bust right. Rev: Large M Exe: // over CON - Cross above M. 512-517 (Constantinopolis). $68 10/13/04. SB 21 Follis Obv: DNANASTASIVSPFAVG - Draped, dressed bust right. Rev: Large M Exe: over CON - Cross above M, on either side with a dot above and below each. 512-517 (Constantinopolis).
AE Half Follis
SB 23 Half Follis Obv: Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: Large K - cross to left, B to right. (Constantinopolis).
SB 23 Half Follis Obv: Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: Large K - cross to left, Γ to right. (Constantinopolis). $1 9/20/02.
AE 10 Nummi
SB 26 Decanummi Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: CONCORDI - Large I with dot on either side. (Constantinopolis).
AE 5 Nummi
SB 29 Pentanummus Obv: DNANASPPAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: No legend - Large ; monogram to right.