Posted on 06/17/2025 6:51:24 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
BBC News reports that a metal detectorist recently retrieved a rare and unique gold coin from a field in Norwich. The artifact was analyzed by numismatist Adrian Marsden of the Norfolk Historic Environment Service, who believes it dates to between a.d. 640 and 660 and may be the oldest Anglo-Saxon coin ever found in East Anglia. It was minted at a transitional time in English history when Christianity was beginning eclipse pagan beliefs, which is reflected in the coin's iconography. One side of the thrymsa, a type of early Anglo-Saxon shilling, features a dancing man who seems to be holding a Christian cross in his hand above a valknut, a triangular symbol associated with the Norse god Odin. "It's the first one of this type of coin that we've seen and new types of shillings just don't turn up," said Marsden. The reverse side depicts a cross or swastika-type symbol and Latin lettering, although the person who designed the coin was likely illiterate as the words amount to gibberish. To read about the Anglo-Saxon taxation system, go to "Ancient Tax Time: The Kings' Dues."
(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...
The gold coin. It depicts a male figure with an oversized head, with crossed legs and wearing a Roman-style headdress or diadem. Its right arm is down by its side and its left arm is raised up and appears to be holding a cross. Beneath the cross on the right is an interlocking design of three triangles.Adrian Marsden
Awesome. And I just finished watching “Detectorists” again…at least for the 3rd time. What a delightful series.
It’s a representation of the Trinity................
I loved The Detectorists.
We are short on hidden gold here. Some prospector’s lost stash in California? Mexican detectorists looking for Mayan gold?
If we use that standard, most people online are. ;^)
poor guy has rickets.
But those hands are huge.
Probably an early Morris-dancer.
Intriguing as to whether this depicts religious syncretism or the old pagan symbols being clobbered by the new Christian one. Alternatively, the figure could be taking the crucifix off the top of an altar (or placing it thereupon).
Perhaps the ambiguity helped make it acceptable to all at the time.
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