About this book:

*Coins and Kings: Numismatics of the Dark Ages* provides a comprehensive analysis of monetary evolution from the decline of the Western Roman Empire to the dawn of the high medieval period (c. 400–1100). The book explores how coinage functioned as a vital tool of political authority, shifting from the gold-based standards of the late Roman and Byzantine worlds to the silver-centered economies characteristic of the Carolingian and Anglo-Saxon eras. By examining minting practices, the book reveals how regional rulers—including Ostrogothic, Visigothic, and Merovingian kings—utilized coin iconography and inscriptions as propaganda to assert legitimacy and independence in a fragmented landscape.

A significant portion of the text is dedicated to the mechanics of exchange beyond official currency, specifically the "bullion economies" of Northern Europe. The author details how Viking-Age trade and Islamic silver influxes facilitated a system of value based on weight rather than state-sanctioned face value, utilizing hacksilver, ingots, and balances. Through detailed case studies of major hoards like Cuerdale, Spillings, and Hoxne, the book illustrates how structured deposits serve as "time capsules" that map ancient trade routes, military crises, and economic transitions that are often absent from the written historical record.

For the practical numismatist, the book offers rigorous guidance on metrology, die analysis, and identification keys, while emphasizing the ethical responsibilities of modern collectors. It covers the technical aspects of minting—from die-cutting to striking—and the legal frameworks, such as royal capitularies and mint rights, that governed production. By bridging the gap between archaeological context and economic theory, the work argues that coins are the most continuous and reliable threads available for reconstructing the political and social complexities of the so-called "Dark Ages."

The final chapters underscore the importance of meticulous documentation, photography, and provenance in preserving the historical integrity of finds. The author advocates for a collaborative relationship between amateur finders and professional archaeologists to ensure that the "metallic grammar" of the past is accurately translated. Ultimately, the book presents coinage not merely as a medium of exchange, but as a sophisticated language of power and a resilient record of human ingenuity during centuries of profound transformation.

What You'll Find Inside:

• Discover how coins functioned as political propaganda, with rulers using iconography, legends, and monograms to project authority, legitimacy, and religious identity across fragmented post-Roman societies.
• Trace the pivotal shift from gold to silver coinage through the Carolingian reforms, understanding how Charlemagne's standardized denier transformed European commerce and state control.
• Learn how hoards serve as historical time capsules, revealing trade networks, economic crises, and political connections through case studies like the Cuerdale and Spillings finds.
• Master practical numismatic identification techniques including metrology, die analysis, mint marks, and distinguishing official issues from imitations using scientific methods.
• Explore the parallel bullion economies of hacksilver and weights that coexisted with struck coinage, particularly in Viking Age trade networks and northern European commerce.

Who's It For:

This book is essential for practicing numismatists, archaeologists, and historical researchers seeking to understand monetary systems of the early medieval period. It also serves serious collectors interested in ethical acquisition, conservation practices, and practical identification methods. Scholars will appreciate the linked case studies and surveys of reforms suitable for teaching, while field detectorists will find valuable guidance on documentation and provenance. Both academic and amateur communities will gain a shared framework for interpreting coins as historical evidence.