Northumbrian kingdom chose copper coins despite abundant silver supplies

Dr. John Luke Carson analyzed gold and silver artifacts from the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria to determine why the region switched to copper-alloy coins.

Northumbria, which covers parts of modern-day northern England and southern Scotland, began minting copper-alloy coins during the first half of the ninth century. This move came after the kingdom had used silver coins during the eighth century, a practice common among its neighbors in Western Europe.

Previous theories suggested that Viking raids during the late eighth and ninth centuries drained the kingdom of precious metals, forcing the monarchy to use copper because they were impoverished. However, Carson's research shows that silver and gold remained plentiful in the region during this period. The findings suggest that the kingdom had access to multiple precious metals and maintained an economically vibrant society. The transition to copper-alloy coins appears to have been a deliberate choice rather than a forced move.

These base-metal coins were produced in larger quantities than the previous silver coins, making them more accessible for everyday use by a larger portion of the population. This shift allowed the king to tax increased minting activity and provided economic benefits to ordinary people.