Bezants

Bezants, which are of frequent occurrence in heraldry, are plain flat circular pieces of gold. They derived their name from the ancient gold coin of Byzantium (now Constantinople), the value of which is stated to have been £375 sterling, and from their Eastern origin are popularly supposed to owe their introduction, like many other figures, to the Crusades. Similar circular figures have a separate name for each individual colour; but when of two tinctures (as is sometimes the case), or when the colour may not be known, the general term roundle is used (under which word each description is particularised). The term bezantee is used when the field or any charge is strewn promiscuously with bezants, without any number or particular position being specified.