Anglo-Saxon and Norman Coins from the Royal Berkshire Collection

Foreword

Many of the processes which culminated in the unification of England can be traced back to the arrival of St Augustine and his missionaries in 597. A reassertion of Christianity brought with it a renewed emphasis on writing, learning, and codified legal systems.

In turn, this inspired a gradual redistribution of political power; away from numerous small territorial lordships towards a few dominant kingdoms. These developments helped to crystallise Bede’s ‘English People’ and it is to our great benefit that the social, political and religious changes of the seventh to ninth centuries are consistently reflected in the coinage of the period. No study of early medieval England can be considered comprehensive without thorough consideration of Anglo-Saxon money.

The earliest of England’s coins, the extremely rare gold Thrymsas (or Shillings), are not represented within this collection. Instead, we start with three Sceattas (or Pennies) struck during the early eighth century. The images present on these coins are varied in both their design and meaning, reflecting adherence to the new Christian dogma (lot 101), the influence of...