A
well written book in two parts. Part one has twelve chapters detailing
the make up of the coinage of the Carolingian empire. The second part
of three chapter’s deals with the Vikings and their uses of the
tribute silver collected.
The
first part on Carolingian coins can be challenging for those with little
knowledge of numismatics. Mr. Coupland has laid out the information in
such away that any scholar can understand the makeup of the early coinage
of this period. The use of coinage to trace the flow of power and economy
is proven through his data. Quality and purity of coins is traced through
the years showing the rise of the rulers and the changes during the reigns
by changing effects on the coinage. Regional differences between the
kingdoms are also shown by the hoard findings.
The
second part of the book deals with the Vikings and their effects in the
empire. One chapter deals with the early Vikings warlords. Many are shown
to be bought off but many more are shown to convert to Christianity and
then join the empire. Brief histories on them are a good read. The ability
to play them off against each other is shown to be limited but effective.
The chapter on tribute explains many of the effects that the tribute
payment had on the county. Its effect is proven in both political and
economic conditions. The economic effects are broken down on the church
and commoner. The last chapter goes over the lack of coinage and other
tribute found in Scandinavia. The small number of coins found from Frankish
mints rather than the large number of Middle Eastern coins is explained.
The
book does trace the rise and use of power in the eighth and ninth century.
Simon Coupland is able to use coinage to explain economic power during
the Carolingian period. This is an excellent book in the Variorum series.
Table of Contents
- “Charlemagne’s coinage: ideology and economy
211–229”
from Charlemagne: Empire and Society, ed. J. Story. Manchester: Manchester
University Press, 2005
- “In palatio nostro:
les monnaies palatines de Charlemagne,” from Bulletin
de la Société Française de Numismatique 41/7.
Paris,1986
- “Money and coinage under Louis the Pious,” from Francia
17/1. Sigmaringen, 1990
- “La chronologie des émissions monétaires
de Louis le Pieux (814–840),” from Bulletin de la Société Française
de Numismatique 43/7. Paris, 1988
- “The Trier mint 822–840,” from Trierer
Zeitschrift 54. Trier, 1991
- “A die-link between coins of Louis the Pious
and Lothar I,” from De Beeldenaar 12/6.
Utrecht, 1988
- “The coinage of Lothar I
(840–855) ,” from Numismatic Chronicle 161. London,
2001
- “The coinages of Pippin I and II of Aquitaine,” from Revue
numismatique 31. Paris, 1989
- “The early coinage of Charles the Bald, 840–864,”
from Numismatic Chronicle 151. London, 1991
- “L’article
XI de l’Edit de Pîtres du 25 juin 864,” fromBulletin
de la Société Française de Numismatique 40/9.
Paris, 1985
- “Dorestad
in the ninth century: the numismatic evidence,” fromJaarboek voor Munt-
en Penningkunde 75. Amsterdam, 1988
- “From
poachers to gamekeepers: Scandinavian warlords and Carolingian kings,” fromEarly
Medieval Europe 7/1. Oxford, 1998
- “Trading
places: Quentovic and Dorestad reassessed,”
fromEarly Medieval Europe 11/3. Oxford, 2002
- “The
Frankish tribute payments to the Vikings and their consequences,” fromFrancia 26/1. Stuttgart, 1999
- “Carolingian
coinage and Scandinavian silver,”
fromNordisk
Numismatisk Årsskrift.
Copenhagen, 1985–86
- Addenda and Corrigenda