nomismata

Gradually the Byzantine emperors raised the pay of the troops, until under Justinian they were earning as much as they had under the early empire — twenty nomismata per year for a common soldier.

superversive: Gondor, Byzantium, and Feudalism superversive 2010

A cavalryman received land worth 288 nomismata, or four pounds of pure gold: enough to require three or four tenant families to farm it, which indeed meant that he did not have to worry about neglecting his land while he was away at the wars.

superversive: Gondor, Byzantium, and Feudalism superversive 2010

The pay of a common soldier was cut to a mere five nomismata, which the empire could comfortably afford to pay even after losing so much territory and wealth.

superversive: Gondor, Byzantium, and Feudalism superversive 2010

And yet you, who hope to obtain everlasting bliss, both drink wine and eat large fishes and spend your time in bed, and now in addition to all those evils you are being kept warm by a coverlet worth 36 nomismata … Blessed be God! You shall not cover humble John a second night!

Word from the Desert 2008

… once went into the patriarch's room and saw that he (John the Almsgiver, feast day Nov. 12) was only covered with a torn and worn quilt, so he sent him a quilt costing 36 nomismata and besought him earnestly to cover himself with that in memory, he said, of the giver.

Word from the Desert 2008