ON THE MONETARY UNITS IN THE GRAFITO 25 FROM ST. SOPHIA CATHEDRAL IN KYIV

In the paper the author attempts to analyze the little-known monetary units of the 12th century mentioned in the grafito 25 from St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. Grafito was discovered in the Apostles’ side-chapel of the Cathedral by Ukrainian researcher Dr. Sergey Vysotsky. Grafito reports about the purchase of «Boyan’s land» by Vsevolozha Princess for «seventy grivny sobolii» or «seven hundred dranits». There is no consensus on the dating of the inscription in historiography, different authors date it since the early until the second part of 12th century (identified with the widow of Vsevolod Olgovich, who died in 1179 or second wife of Vsevolod Yaroslavich, after 1111). The analysis of written sources, linguistic, numismatic and archeological data allows the author to suppose the equivalent of «dranits» and Byzantine scyphate (concave) gold coins. Money hoards and single finds show the important part of the golden Byzantine scyphate coins of 12th—14th centuries in the economic and cultural life in the Rus. Such coins are absolutely dominated in the finds of the gold coins in Ukrainian lands. Treasures with gold Byzantine coins of 11th—12th centuries were found with decorations and the gold ingots and silver grivnas in Kyiv (once near St. Sophia Cathedral). Byzantine gold coins with different gold purity were brought to Rus and were the main source for the gold ingot and decoration. Byzantine gold coins appeared to be the main currency in the international transactions but also in the local large payments in Rus. The monetary systems of the Old Rus principalities were established on the basis of the Byzantine monetary system. Litra of gold was fixed in the Old Rus sources.