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

by Gannon, Anna

• ISBN13: 9780199254651
• ISBN10: 0199254656
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-07-03
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

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.

Author Biography

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

Table of Contents

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