The Byzantine Gold Coins Unearthed from the Tomb of Li Xizong in Zanhuang

In 1975–1976, three Byzantine gold coins were unearthed from the tomb of Li Xizong of the Eastern Wei Dynasty in Zanhuang County, Hebei Province. This paper provides a detailed description and discussion of the age, size, weight, inscriptions and styles of these three gold coins, suggesting that it may be a burial custom in China at that time that the Byzantine gold coins or their replicas were contained in the mouth of the deceased.