40 Nummi - Anastasius I Dicorus Constantinopolis, Type ✶M☾, Large Module

Anastasius I introduced the follis in 498 AD as the centerpiece of his currency reform — the most significant restructuring of Byzantine bronze coinage since the late Roman period. Prior to this reform, the copper fraction had deteriorated to near-worthless nummi so tiny they were largely impractical for daily commerce. The new large-module 40-nummi piece gave the market a usable denomination again.

Constantinople issues from the earliest phase of the reform are distinguished by their relatively crude fabric, a product of the mint scaling up production rapidly. The crescent and star officina marks were introduced to track output across multiple workshops simultaneously.