Currency was unified by Emperor Qin Shi Huang after he unified China. Gold was considered as high-grade currency, and "banliang", the round copper coin with a square hole in the middle, was regarded as low-grade currency; they were circulated nationwide.
This edition completes the inclusion of published archival material from the monasteries of Mt Athos, and that relating to Nea Mone (Chios). It adds basic treatment of Byzantine Italy till the capture of Bari (1071). There has been considerable tidying throughout, but especially at the beginning and end, a process which will continue in the next edition (2007.1). The main emphasis of that edition will be on seals.