Cover; Half Title; Dedication; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; List of figures; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations; Introduction: the significance of silver; 1 The emperor's gifts: the Missorium of Theodosius and imperial largitio; 2 Sacred silver: from patera to paten; 3 Representing myth in late antique silver: the role of paideia; 4 The persistence of paideia: the David Plates and the transformation of the secular in early Byzantium; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index