[ noun ] a gold coin of the Byzantine Empire; widely circulated in Europe in the Middle Ages <noun.possession>
Byzant \Byz"ant\, Byzantine \Byz"an*tine\ (-[a^]n"t[imac]n) n.[OE. besant, besaunt, F. besant, fr. LL. Byzantius, Byzantinus, fr. Byzantium.] (Numis.) A gold coin, so called from being coined at Byzantium. See {Bezant}.
Bezant \Be*zant"\, n. [See {Byzant}.] 1. A gold coin of Byzantium or Constantinople, varying in weight and value, usually (those current in England) between a sovereign and a half sovereign. There were also white or silver bezants. [Written also {besant}, {byzant}, etc.]
2. (Her.) A circle in or, i. e., gold, representing the gold coin called bezant. --Burke.
3. A decoration of a flat surface, as of a band or belt, representing circular disks lapping one upon another.