Early Medieval Monetary History: Studies in Memory of Mark Blackburn, ed. Rory Naismith, Martin Allen and Elina Screen
Scott Ashley
Coins have been part of the mainstream evidence for early medieval history several decades. As result a widespread material culture ‘turn’ in traditionally text-based humanities (although historians—rarely as adept their modernist colleagues theorising what they do—would be unlikely to phrase it like that), coins now figure prominently most accounts post-Roman Europe, Insular world, and both Viking homelands diaspora. It is normal see analysis discussion markets trade and, via minting iconography, governmental power. But are also being used more cultural ways, signs belief-systems rituals, markers place carriers identity, through use grave goods, hoards transformation into jewellery charms. There always exemplary figures willing reach across divide between coin cabinet department. Philip Grierson Peter Sawyer spring mind immediately this context. late Mark Blackburn, Grierson’s assistant, collaborator eventual successor at Fitzwilliam Museum, was, from 1980s, key growing familiarity seemed austere classificatory discipline numismatist eclectic interests historian. This fine volume twenty-five essays by former students, friends pays fitting tribute man, who died prematurely 2011.
The English Historical Review