 Unfortunately, the widespread use of Byzantine bronzes from this period as souvenirs from the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean means many finds of them must be treated with extreme care.The importation of current continental issues – mainly in gold – continued over the 6th century, with considerable numbers of Merovingian "tremisses" circulating in southern and eastern England even by the end of the 6th century.It was on the basis of these coins that the first native English production of coins took place in the early 7th century.