# What is the "r" dating system that is connected to Byzantium? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 2, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-r-dating-system-that-is-connected-to-byzantium/819002 "2018-08-02T21:18:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-r-dating-system-that-is-connected-to-byzantium/819002/1 "2018-08-02T21:18:28Z")
I’d never seen or noticed this before I saw it in the Art Institute the other day. It was used to date some coins that were Byzantine. When I look on Wiki, I see it used, but I don’t really know what it is based on, when it supposedly began, etc. Historians, what’s the straight dope on this system? xo, C. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-r-dating-system-that-is-connected-to-byzantium/819002/2 "2018-08-02T22:21:38Z")
Are you sure it is an R or is it an upper case Gamma Γ Γ was a used for the officina or the mint that made the coin and think it will probably have “CON” on the coin for Constantinople. Here is a link that should explain it. > **[NumisWiki - The Collaborative Numismatics Project - Thousands Of Online...](https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=officina)** > > officina ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-r-dating-system-that-is-connected-to-byzantium/819002/3 "2018-08-02T22:30:50Z")
Not exactly what I’m talking about. This is a small excerpt from Wikipedia: “Constantine I (r. 324–337)” It seems to be a numbering system akin to B.C. or A.D. or BCE. I just have never come across it before. It seems to refer only to Byzantine events. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-r-dating-system-that-is-connected-to-byzantium/819002/4 "2018-08-02T22:36:19Z")
That either stands for “rex” or “reigned”, and in any case indicates the range of dates in which he ruled the empire. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-r-dating-system-that-is-connected-to-byzantium/819002/5 "2018-08-02T23:16:47Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > That either stands for “rex” or “reigned”, and in any case indicates the range of dates in which he ruled the empire. Yep - Wikipedia entries use ‘Reigned’ in the right hand side main entry block, but I’m sure you’ll find examples of ‘Ruled’, ‘Rex’ and ‘Ran the place’ if you look hard enough. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-r-dating-system-that-is-connected-to-byzantium/819002/6 "2018-08-11T13:48:05Z")
This may be a little late, but just to clarify - the regnal ® dates are not specific to Byzantine emperors. It is the most common way to show when a particular Emperor/King/Pope/whatever held the title. For instance, looking up James II of England might show up as: James II (r. 1685-1688). Even more likely IMHO it would be: James II (1633-1701, r 1685-1688). The first set of dates are birth and death, with the second set following the “r” showing the period that he was head honcho.