Anglo-Saxon kingdom chose copper coins despite abundant silver

Recent analysis of gold and silver artifacts from ninth-century Northumbria, published in the journal Antiquity, reveals that the Anglo-Saxon kingdom did not suffer from a shortage of precious metals that would have forced them to switch from silver to copper-alloy coins. Contrary to popular belief, researchers found that silver was plentiful in the region, along with a smaller but still significant amount of gold.

This suggests that Northumbria was an economically vibrant kingdom with access to multiple precious metals. The kingdom's decision to debase its own coinage, moving from silver to copper alloy, was likely an intentional choice rather than a forced move due to poverty. The new copper-alloy coins were minted in greater quantities than their silver predecessors, making them more suitable for everyday use by a larger portion of the population.

This shift provided significant economic and social benefits, allowing ordinary people to use the coins more frequently and enabling the king to tax increasing mint activity. Overall, the findings challenge the notion that Northumbria was impoverished and highlight the complex measures early medieval kingdoms took to stimulate their economies.