Tremissis of Emperor Justinian I

Justinian I was one of the greatest Byzantine emperors. He beautified the capital, encouraged education, codified Roman law, and expanded the Byzantine Empire and its economy. He also ensured that the legacy of the Roman Empire lived on through Byzantine art and architecture, and the preservation of Greek and Roman traditions. This Byzantine influence eventually spread into Russia and Eastern Europe. After years of Mongol occupation, Ivan III (Ivan the Great) threw off Mongol rule to make Russia a unified nation with Moscow as its center of power.