Thetremissis ortremis (Greek: τριμίσιον,trimision) was a small pure gold coin ofLate Antiquity. Its name, meaning "a third of a unit", formed by analogy withsemissis (half of a unit), indicated its value relative to thesolidus. It was introduced intoRoman currency in the 380s by the EmperorTheodosius I and initially weighed 8siliquae (equivalent to 1.52 grams).[1]
Roman tremisses continued to be commonly minted into the reign ofLeo III (717–741), but thereafter they were only rarely struck in the east of the empire, probably only for ceremonial uses, until the reign ofBasil I (867–886), after which they disappeared. Nevertheless, the coin continued in common use in theSicilian theme until the fall of Syracuse in 878. Thetrachy, introduced in the 11th century, was equivalent in value to the old tremissis. Although it was not made of gold, it was one third of the standard goldenhyperpyron. It was not, however, called tremissis.[1]
Outside of the Roman empire, tremisses were minted by theAnglo-Saxons,Burgundians,Franks,Frisians,Lombards,Ostrogoths,Suevi andVisigoths between the 5th and 8th centuries.[2] The word tremissis was borrowed intoOld English asthrymsa.[3]
In Frankish sources, the tremissis is sometimes called atriens, a term likewise meaning "a third", which originally referred to a bronze coin worth a third of anas. The historian and bishopGregory of Tours calls the Frankish tremissis atrians ortreans. TheGerman formdremise is also attested. In French historiography the termtiers (third) ortiers de sou (third of a solidus) is often used. The French, in general, prefer to call the coin of theMerovingian kings a triens (but avoiding the plural formtrientes), while British scholarship prefers tremissis.[4]
It was still used as an accounting currency until at least the 12th century in Sardinia. It appears astremisse in thecondaghe.[5]
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