 The coin was probably struck at Canterbury in the late 6th century , most likely between 578 and 589 . Although it could have been used as a coin , it was more likely made as a medallion to proclaim the wearer 's conversion to Christianity . The coin is the oldest surviving example of Anglo @-@ Saxon coinage . The design of the figured side has some affinities with Merovingian and Visigothic coins , but the side with the cross has few known predecessors in coinage , and is the first northern European depiction of a patriarchal cross in any medium . 
