Bezant

Bezant

Bezant, Besant(fr.), or besaunte=a Roundlet or. It represents the gold coin of Byzantium(Constantinople), and should therefore be drawn flat. It is said that this money, once current, had no device whatever stamped on it. This and the other roundles were no doubt introduced into English heraldry by the crusaders. The French term it Besant d'or, while they call the plate, Besant d'argent; they also write Besant de gueules when the Roundle(q.v.) is red.

Gules, three bezants--DYNGHAM.

Monsire de WORSELEY port[d'argent, une bend entre vi merletts gules] a trois besands en la bend--Roll, temp. ED. III.