Numismatics, defined simply as “the study of coins”, is a branch of archaeology that was referred to as “the overlooked key to history” by the New Yorker in 2021. Often missed by tourists in museums due to their small size and already quite familiar appearance, there is in fact much to be interpreted from coin finds; the iconography, materials, weight, preservation, finding place, and more can reveal hidden details about past civilisations (Rodríguez, 2020).
A silver coin from the reign of the Anglo-Saxon king, Edgar the Peaceful, currently on display at the British Museum (museum number 1956,1108.9), provides an insight into the political, economic, and military state of England during his 10th century rule. Edgar’s reign was characterised by a lack of internal and external conflict, earning him both the support of his people and the title of ‘Peaceful’. Creating ‘stability and unity’ (Brain, 2022) in his country, Edgar’s rule brought economic prosperity to England, as evidenced by the state in which the coin was found. The edges of the coin remain fully intact, with no clipping, meaning none of the coin was cut or broken off to retain material for personal profit. This may imply, therefore, that individuals had less cause to clip the coins they were using, indicating economic prosperity. Furthermore, the reverse of the coin displays a cross pattée, seen to this day as a military symbol of honour and valour (identifymedals.com, n.d.), possibly referring to Edgar’s large military and lack of conflict.
John Naylor analyses a similar ‘reform penny’ from Edgar’s reign in his book titled ’50 Finds of Early Medieval Coinage.’ The term ‘reform penny’ refers to a coin that brought a standardisation in the minting process as well as an end to varied types and weights of coins (Naylor, 2021). The penny does display slight clipping, or general wear, but is still largely in good condition. The standardisation of minting meant coin changes could be introduced more quickly due to the wider spread coverage of mints involved in the process (Naylor, 2021). Moreover, coins, as small objects, are easily manipulatable and transportable, circulating quickly to a wide area (Rodríguez, 2020), meaning many people would use them. The wear on the coins, therefore, would further give an indication to the kind of people who possessed them.
The designs on pennies of Coenwulf of Mercia around the 9th century are less diverse than previous coinage, indicating that the artistic freedom of the moneyer (coin maker) was more restricted (Naylor, 2021). Using this conclusion, we know that pre-9th century Anglo-Saxon coinage allowed for moneyers to add their own interpretative designs to their coins; this means that coins not only represented the people who commissioned them (i.e. the monarch), but also the moneyer, and the everyday users of the coins, giving an insight into a very wide portion of past societies (Naylor, 2021).
As previously mentioned, coins were easily circulated and distributed, but this was not only limited to within a country; coinage from one country found in another can provide evidence of raiding or trade. One such example is a penny from the reign of King Aethelred II, also on display at the British Museum (museum number 1860,0609.32), which was minted in York, but found in Leipzig, Germany. The coin could have been used in trade, indicating a link between what is now Germany and England, or perhaps ended up in Leipzig as a result of a raid in England, the raiders bringing their treasures back to their homeland. Therefore, coins can provide an insight into hidden trade links and interactions on an international scale.
Furthermore, coin finds are common from many historical periods, making them a useful comparison point between civilisations. Metal for the purpose of currency was used as far back as 2000 BC (Britannica, 2023), and by looking at iconography and materials, it is possible to determine the age of the archaeological sites they are found in with little margin of error (Rodríguez, 2020).
Numismatics has sources and evidence spanning many centuries. This, as well as an insight into the military, economy, politics, trade, and societies themselves of the past, makes it a study incredibly valuable to the analysis of history. What makes coins arguably the most intellectually valuable find, though, is the fact that such a small and commonplace object can hold so much of the historical detail we can deduce from the time.
Bibliography
Brain, J., 2022. Edgar
The Peaceful. [Online]
Available at: https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Edgar-the-Peaceful/
Britannica, 2023. When were coins first used as money?. [Online]
Available at: https://www.britannica.com/question/When-were-coins-first-used-as-money
Cep, C., 2021. Coins, the Overlooked Keys to History. [Online]
Available at: https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/coins-the-overlooked-keys-to-history
identifymedals.com, n.d. What is a Cross Pattée and Why
are so Many Military Medals this Shape?. [Online]
Available at: https://www.identifymedals.com/article/what-is-a-cross-pattee-military-medals-shape/
Naylor, J., 2021. In: 50 Finds of Early Medieval Coinage. s.l.:Amberley Publishing, p. 82.
Naylor, J., 2021. In: 50 Finds of Early Medieval Coinage. s.l.:Amberley Publishing, p. 51.
Naylor, J., 2021. In: 50 Finds of Early Medieval Coinage. s.l.:Amberley Publishing, p. 6.
Rodríguez, S. V., 2020. The Importance of Numismatics. [Online]
Available at: https://www.tauleryfau.com/en/the-importance-of-numismatics/
The British Museum, n.d. Coin. [Online]
Available at: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1956-1108-9
The British Museum, n.d. Coin. [Online]
Available at: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1860-0609-32
