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出版者:

作者:Abramson, Tony 编

出品人:

页数:264

译者:

出版时间:2011-3

价格:$ 101.70

装帧:

isbn号码:9781843834663

丛书系列:

图书标签:

• 中世纪早期
• 货币史
• 钱币学
• 考古学
• 历史学
• 欧洲历史
• 早期中世纪
• 经济史
• 造币
• 历史研究

Studies in Early Medieval Coinage A Comprehensive Examination of Monetary Systems in the Dawn of the Middle Ages This volume, Studies in Early Medieval Coinage, offers a profound and meticulously researched exploration into the complex monetary landscapes that characterized the formative centuries of the Middle Ages, roughly spanning the 5th through the 11th centuries CE. Far from being a monolithic period of economic decline following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, this era witnessed a dynamic, fragmented, and often innovative evolution of coinage across the European continent, the Byzantine East, and emerging Islamic caliphates. This collection of essays moves beyond mere cataloging of finds to interrogate the socio-political, economic, and technological underpinnings of early medieval currency. The central ambition of this work is to dismantle the lingering perception of the 'Dark Ages' as an entirely cash-less or barter-dominated society. Instead, we demonstrate, through rigorous numismatic analysis, epigraphic evidence, and contextual archaeological interpretation, that coinage remained a vital, albeit regionally varied, medium of exchange, status projection, and resource consolidation. Part I: Transition and Fragmentation – The Successor Kingdoms (c. 450–750 CE) The initial section addresses the immediate aftermath of Roman imperial withdrawal and the subsequent establishment of Germanic successor kingdoms. The focus here is on the processes of translatio imperii as reflected in minting practices. Chapter 1: The Merovingian Inheritance and the Devaluation Crisis. This chapter examines the lingering influence of late Roman monetary standards in Gaul, particularly the persistence of the solidus. We analyze the shift from gold to silver as the dominant metal, scrutinizing the debasement of gold coinage and the proliferation of locally struck silver pennies (deniers). Particular attention is paid to the role of bishops and powerful magnates in controlling mints, moving authority away from centralized royal figures toward regional powers. The analysis incorporates spectrographic data from major hoards discovered in Northern France and Belgium, revealing intricate patterns of alloy control and illicit clipping. Chapter 2: Ostrogothic and Lombardic Monetary Policy in Italy. The Italian peninsula offers a unique case study where Byzantine imperial authority was contested by Germanic rulers. This section contrasts the relatively stable, high-carat gold coinage issued by Theodoric the Great—deliberately mirroring established Roman iconography—with the subsequent, increasingly unstable coinage under the later Ostrogoths and the early Lombards. The study delves into the 'transition coins' that blend Roman portraits with nascent Germanic symbols, charting the slow transition towards a predominantly silver-based economy driven by local trade networks rather than long-distance imperial provisioning. Chapter 3: Anglo-Saxon Beginnings: From Skeuomorphism to Innovation. We investigate the tentative steps taken by the early Anglo-Saxon kingdoms (Kent, Mercia, Northumbria) toward creating an indigenous coinage. Initial issues, often mimicking or directly copying late Roman or Frankish prototypes, gradually give way to distinct iconography, such as the earliest recognizable portraits of Anglo-Saxon kings. The introduction of standardized silver penny weights and the establishment of early minting centres like Canterbury and London are traced, highlighting the increasing centralization of royal power necessary to support a reliable currency. Part II: Expansion and Standardization – The Carolingian Zenith and its Periphery (c. 750–950 CE) This section pivots to the impact of the Carolingian Renaissance on monetary uniformity and the subsequent fragmentation that followed. Chapter 4: Pepin the Short and Charlemagne: The Monetary Revolution. This core chapter argues that Charlemagne’s systematic reform of coinage—establishing the strict silver standard based on the silver denier (penny) at a fixed weight—was not merely an economic measure but a profound political act intended to unify his vast empire under a single, tangible symbol of divine and secular authority. We analyze the implications of the Carolingian monetary decree, focusing on the suppression of unauthorized mints and the standardization of die-cutting techniques across the realm. Archaeological evidence from major hoard depositions along the Rhine and the Danube illustrates the unprecedented circulation of these standardized coins. Chapter 5: The Viking Impact: Disruption and Integration. The expansion of Norse activity profoundly affected contemporary currency systems. This chapter explores how Viking raids both drained established silver reserves (as seen in numerous hoards rich in hoarded Frankish and Anglo-Saxon silver) and simultaneously facilitated new circulation patterns. The Norse adoption of 'hack-silver' as a medium of exchange, alongside their demand for high-quality foreign coinage, is analyzed as a crucial vector for the dissemination of Carolingian and Islamic silver into Northern Europe, bridging established trade routes. Chapter 6: The Byzantine Counterpoint: Gold, Crisis, and Continuity. In the East, the gold solidus (later nomisma) remained the bedrock of the economy. This chapter examines the pressures placed upon the Byzantine standard by sustained warfare against the Abbasids and the resulting episodic debasement of the nomisma in the 10th century. We contrast the rigid official typology with the flourishing, though often clandestine, production of gold coin imitations in the Balkans and Southern Italy, demonstrating the far-reaching economic gravity of Constantinople. Part III: Context and Interpretation – Beyond Bullion Value The final section broadens the scope, moving from dynastic production to the lived experience and function of these currencies. Chapter 7: Weight Standards, Clipping, and Monetary Discipline. This analysis moves into the practical realities of medieval commerce. Using metrological data, we reconstruct regional variations in acceptable weight tolerances for silver pennies. The prevalence of edge-clipping, illegal shaving, and the use of standardized assay weights in marketplaces are discussed. This chapter illuminates the constant tension between centralized attempts at monetary control (as legislated by royal or imperial decrees) and the decentralized, pragmatic realities of local trade and bullion management by merchants and money changers. Chapter 8: Iconography as Propaganda: Reading Early Medieval Portraits. Coin portraits are seldom mere likenesses; they are statements of power. This chapter offers a detailed iconographic study, interpreting the transition from classical busts to more abstracted, sometimes spiritualized, representations on Merovingian, Anglo-Saxon, and Carolingian issues. The deliberate placement or omission of the cross, the adoption of Christian symbols, and the evolution of the monarch’s title are analyzed as tools used by rulers to legitimize their authority to both internal subjects and external rivals. Chapter 9: Numismatics and Archaeology: Hoards as Historical Documents. The closing essay emphasizes the critical partnership between numismatics and archaeology. A comprehensive hoard study reveals more than just dating evidence; it speaks volumes about regional wealth concentration, forced divestment (flight/warfare), and established trade routes. By comparing the geographical distribution of hoards containing synchronized issues (e.g., specific Wessex pennies alongside specific Ottonian issues), we can trace the flow of wealth and the geographic reach of political influence in a period often characterized by sparse textual documentation. Studies in Early Medieval Coinage serves as an indispensable resource for historians, archaeologists, and numismatists, offering a nuanced, evidence-based correction to simplistic narratives of economic regression. It underscores the enduring significance of coinage as a primary, tangible record of political, social, and economic history during this pivotal era of European formation.

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