Small Change for Byzantine Egypt: A propos Clay Moulds of Heraclius found in Tebtunis (Fayum)

The publication of two fragmentary clay moulds for casting dodecanummia of Heraclius, found in Tebtunis (Faiyum) by the famous Egyptologist Gaston Maspéro (1846-1916), provides the impetus to reconsider the local production of small change in Byzantine Egypt. The production of lightweight cast or irregular struck dodecanummia remained relatively concentrated to the reign of Phocas (602-610), when the mint at Alexandria was inactive. At a later point, cast or struck coins in the name of Heraclius reached the official weight, suggesting that they were forgeries. This shows that after 630 Heraclius succeeded in restoring a copper coinage, the intrinsic value of which matched its face value. The measures he took contained the local production of low quality small change – shortly before the loss of Egypt to the Arabs.