The Iconography of Early Anglo-Saxon Coinage

This is the first scholarly art historical appraisal of early Anglo-Saxon coinage. Anna Gannon examines the many coins produced during this most vibrant period of English coinage. She analyses their prototypes and explores their sources and parallels with contemporary arts, literature, and theology, setting their meaning in context.

Anna Gannon is Assistant Curator of Early Medieval Coinage at the British Museum.

Abbreviations

x

Introduction 1

PART I. NUMISMATIC BACKGROUND

1. Numismatic Background of Early Anglo-Saxon England

7

(16)

The End of the Roman System

7

(1)

Alternative Uses of Coins

8

(2)

The Beginning of Coinage: Gold Issues

10

(2)

Silver Issues

12

(1)

Offa's Coinage

13

(1)

Manufacturing of Coins

14

(1)

Die-Cutters and Moneyers

15

(1)

Patronage

16

(1)

The Function of the Coinage

17

(1)

Mints

18

(1)

Chronology

18

(1)

Classifications

19

(4)

PART II. ICONOGRAPHY

2. The Bust

23

(56)

The Head

25

(38)

Facing Heads

25

(5)

Bareheaded Portraits

30

(1)

Bareheaded Portraits of Offa

31

(3)

Encircled Heads

34

(3)

Confronting Heads

37

(2)

Female Portraits

39

(3)

Heads and Headdresses

42

(1)

Crowns

42

(3)

Diadems

45

(6)

Helmets

51

(3)

Rendering of Drapery

54

(1)

Schematic Drapery

55

(3)

Crossed-Over Drapery

58

(1)

Offa's Drapery

59

(3)

Armour

62

(1)

Attributes

63

(16)

Hands

63

(2)

Hands Holding Crosses

65

(1)

Hands Holding Cups

66

(1)

Hands Holding Sprigs

67

(2)

Bust and Crosses

69

(2)

Bust and Vegetation Motifs

71

(1)

Bust and `Tridents'

72

(2)

Bust and `Star'

74

(1)

Bust and Sceptre

75

(2)

Bust and Bird

77

(2)

3. Human Figures

79

(28)

`Victory' and Angels

79

(5)

The Two Emperors

84

(3)

Single Figure between Crosses

87

(6)

Single Figure with Vegetation Motifs and Crosses

93

(2)

Standing Figures with Cross and Bird

95

(3)

Seated Figures

98

(3)

Two Standing Figures

101

(4)

The Archer

105

(2)

4. Animal Iconography

107

(50)

Birds

107

(18)

Birds on Crosses

107

(5)

Birds with Crosses

112

(2)

Birds with Cross and Fledgling

114

(2)

Birds and Snakes

116

(1)

Birds in Vine-Scrolls

117

(3)

Peacocks

120

(3)

The Hen

123

(2)

Lions

125

(11)

Aldfrith's Lions and the Northumbrian Tradition

125

(2)

East Anglian Lions

127

(4)

The Tale of Two Panthers

131

(3)

Facing Lions

134

(2)

Snakes

136

(8)

Motif-Encircling Snakes

136

(2)

Rolled-Up Snakes

138

(3)

Whorls of Snakes

141

(1)

Offa's Snakes

142

(2)

Wolves

144

(4)

The She-Wolf

145

(3)

Backward-Looking Animals

148

(3)

Fantastic Hybrids

151

(6)

The Female Centaur

151

(3)

Winged Quadrupeds and Other Hybrids

154

(3)

5. Reverses with Crosses, Standards/Saltires, and Porcupines

157

(25)

Crosses

157

(14)

Latin Crosses

157

(3)

Greek Crosses

160

(5)

Marigolds

165

(2)

Crossed Instruments

167

(1)

Offa's Crosses

168

(3)

Standards and Saltires

171

(11)

Porcupines

176

(6)

6. Conclusion

182

(12)

Bibliography

194

(25)

Index

219

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The Iconography of Early Anglo-Saxon Coinage Sixth to Eighth Centuries

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials