Sign in or register
for additional privileges

The Viking World

A History in 100 Objects

Austin Mason, Hannah Curtiss, Liza Davis, Jane Kelly, Kerim Omer Kadir Celik, Adante Ratzlaff, Leah Sacks, Kai Matsubara-Rall, Quinn Radich, Madeline Cosgriff, John Kennelly, Claire Jensen, Alperen Turkol, Jordan Cahn, Peter Hanes, Sarah Wang, Nick Carlsen, Ari Bakke, Phineas Callahan, Lauren Azuma, Justin Berchiolli, Rowan Matney, Ben Pletta, John Scott, Nick Cohen, Sophie Bokor, Authors
Money, page 8 of 16

Other paths that intersect here:
 

You appear to be using an older verion of Internet Explorer. For the best experience please upgrade your IE version or switch to a another web browser.

Penny From the Reign of Anlaf Guthfrithsson

Item #1: A Penny from the Reign of Anlaf Guthfrithsson., 939-941 CE.

This object is a silver penny from the reign of Anlaf Guthfrithsson, one of the Viking kings of the Danelaw, the region of England settled by Viking invaders. It was minted sometime between 939 and 941 CE near York. This coin is mainly a study in how the Viking settlers assimilated into the native Anglo-Saxon culture. There are examples of resistance to assimilation. For example, unlike several pennies of his contemporaries, Anlaf’s pennies were inscribed in Old Norse. Most Viking rulers inscribed their coins in the Latin language, familiar to their Anglo-Saxon subjects.1

Nonetheless, this coin mostly demonstrates assimilation. As the discoverers noted, the coin depicts a bird, most likely a raven or eagle. The eagle was present at the time in both Norse and Christian art. (For the Norse, the eagle represented Odin. For Christians, the eagle represented Saint John the Evangelist.)2 Therefore, it is very likely that Anlaf sought the religious approval of his Christian subjects. Such an arrangement would not be unusual. Assimilation to local culture was quite common among Viking settlers. In fact, often settlement in the British Isles was not followed by the spread of Norse customs, but rather adopting local customs, albeit while maintaining many Norse traditions as well. For example, in the York area, where Anlaf ruled, several sculptured stones are found that have imported Norse Jelling Styles, but used them to depict Christian images.3 More importantly, the penny presented here is best viewed in the context of other pennies of the time. Like other pennies produced by both Anglo-Saxon and Norse rulers, the coins are engraved in the Latin Alphabet.4 As well as this, there is a cross found on all sides.5 Thus, these coins prove to be a good indication of how the Vikings rather than changing the local culture, sought to assimilate instead.
Comment on this page
 

Discussion of "Penny From the Reign of Anlaf Guthfrithsson"

Add your voice to this discussion.

Checking your signed in status ...

Previous page on path Money, page 8 of 16 Next page on path


Related:  Silver Penny of CnutHoard Find from Vester VedstedThe Silver Penny of Sven EstridsenEigg Sword HiltThe New ValkyrieBirka CrucifixIron SeaxRhenish Glass BeakerEarl of Pembroke's SwordThe Birka GirlSilver ArmletStirrupThe Ulfberht SwordCup from the Halton Moor HoardMammen AxeGrey Ceramic PitcherStamford Mint Silver CoinAntler Comb with Matching CasePin with ChainIron Hatchet Head, 9th centuryReins Guide in the Borre StyleDecorated Sword PommelHemdrup StickKiaby BroochSilver BraceletSilver Penny from the Reign of Cnut the Great Minted in Bath, EnglandBrass RingFinnish Bronze HoardScale and Weights from the HebridesTerminal for an Open Ring BroochLeather Whip, 11th centuryBurial SwordRing with Inscription "To Allah"Gokstad ShipIron Spearhead with Silver EmbellishmentsWeaving BattenIron Sickle, 800 ADDress Pin in BronzePicture StonePiraeus Graffiti LionGold ArmringThemeCopper Alloy Mount for a StirrupBow Brooch in Copper and GarnetLocationSuontaka SwordBrooch in the Urnes Style from Kiaby, Skåne, SwedenTimeHelmet from Grave I at Vendel, SwedenSilver Neck RingA Mold for Religious AmuletsAnimal Head Post from OsebergBorre Style PendantAbassid CoinTreatise on Astronomy with Picture of Dragon Headed BoatFolding ScalesDEMO: Circular Bracteate PendantRanvaig's CasketSilver Figure of FreyaClench BoltNorse KeyOseberg ShipMaterialsJelling StoneDrinking Horn / TerminalPattern-Welded Sword