Kings of Mercia Silver Penny of Offa 757-880 AD Monetary System The monetary system employed by the Kings of Mercia was that of the silver penny. This relatively new denominations was first introduced to Europe as the silver “denier” in France by Pepin in 755 AD (house ofCharlemagne). We find that this new restoration of the old Romandenarius quickly spread […]

Kings of Kent 765-825 AD Monetary System The monetary systems of both Kent and Mercia were greatly influenced by the introduction of a silver “denier” in France by Pepin in 755 AD (house of Charlemagne). We find that this new restoration of the old Roman denarius quickly spread throughout Europe and England was no exception. The English translation for “denier” was “penny” […]

Archbishops of Canterbury 765-914 AD Monetary System The monetary system employed by the Archbishops of Canterbury was that of the silver penny. This relatively new denominations was first introduced to Europe as the silver “denier” in France by Pepin in 755 AD (house of Charlemagne). We find that this new restoration of the old Roman denarius quickly spread throughout Europe and England […]

Roman Britain   Hadrian’s Wall 1st Century AD- 5th Century AD The island off the cost of Europe, which became known as Britain, became a province of the Roman Empire by the middle of the first century AD. While expeditions to Britain were begun first by Julius Caesar during the middle of the first century BC, no […]

Monetary History of England Henry II Silver Penny Part III 1154-1470 by Martin A. Armstrong PLANTAGENET KINGS c1154-1399 With the treaty in which Matilda’s son Henery II (1154-1189) came to the throne, the coinage of England did not immediately reflect the political change. The coinage Stephen continued to be minted until 1158 before a new […]

Monetary History of England Part III 600-1153 AD by Martin A. Armstrong The Anglo Saxon Period c 600-c. 775 During the late 6th century AD, the island of Britain began to undergo a rebirth. Renewed political, cultural and commercial links again start to emerge with the kingdom of the Merovingian Franks. Small quantities of Merovingian gold tremisses have […]

Monetary History of Sweden Eric the Victorious (c. 945 – c. 995) was a Swedish monarch who is recognized as the first real king of Sweden. There were earlier Swedish kings, but Eric was the first Swedish king who established a line of succession. Eric became known as the Victorious after defeating an invasion force […]

Monetary History of Spain Ferdinand & Isabella Historical Outline Pre 237 BC Carthaginian Period Roman Period Visigothic Period Kings of Visigothic Spain, 567-714 Liuva I 567-572 Leovigild 568-586 Hermenegild (usurper) 579-584 Reccared I 586-601 Liuva II 601-603 Witteric 603-609 Gundemar 609-612 Sisebut 612-621 Reccared II 621 Swinthila 621-631 Judila (pretender)`631 Sisenand 631-636 Chintila 636-639 Tulga […]

Monetary History of Russia The Russian Monetary System began also with cattle (skot) during the Kievan period. Skins of small animals and precious metals were used as fixed-value exchange rate based upon barter goods. Up until the end of the 12th century, cattle was the unit of account but commerce took place with the skins […]

Monetary History of Japan As legend has it, Japan was founded around 660BC by a direct descendent of the Sun Goddess. It is from this basic legend that Japan derives the name of “Land of the Rise Sun.” Japan has a long monetary history which dates back to when coins were first introduced from neighboring Korea […]