This revision of the 2nd volume Moneta imperii Byzantini, originally published in German language more than 30 years ago (1975) and covering the period of 565 to 610, was achieved owing to a grant of the FWF. Replacing the work of reference which is out of print and needed refurbishing because of an essential increase of new material, it follows the English version of the revised 1st volume Moneta imperii Byzantini (491-565) which has made a successful appearance in 2000. In this context the artificial English title has been chosen as well as the structure of the treatise which combines a descriptive catalogue which the references of the locations of the individual coin types. As far as possible the previous numbering system of the types was maintained by inserting the plentiful newcomers. These were obtained from the observation of the international coin trade (lately by internet), but also from the archaelogical literature and from newly appeared catalogues of collections. Thus the basis of the numismatic material was updated to current research. The new evidence led to better insights with respect to problems of metrology, mint attribution and the periodicity of the coin production as discussed in the commentary.
The use of computers has proved indispensible for the presentation of the material, in particular for the drawing of the synoptical charts as well as for the extensive illustrations which even follow the stylistical development within the separate types. The English language is thought to facilitate the access of the international scholarly community to Byzantine coinage being a source of importance not only to numismatists, but also to historians and archaeologists. Moreover, as a new standard work it aims at improving the identification of the relevant coin types.