Coins, swords and urns: British Museum loans in Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms
Our landmark exhibition, Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War, presents an unrivalled chance to see Anglo-Saxon manuscripts alongside some of the most stunning objects from this period. Many of these artefacts have been generously loaned to the exhibition by the British Museum, to whom we are extremely grateful for their support. Their objects help to illuminate the origins of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, the period of Mercian supremacy, and the period of conquest in the 10th and 11th centuries.
The Loveden Hill Urn: British Museum, BEP 1963, 1001.14
The Loveden Hill Urn, dating from the second half of the 5th century, is one of more than 1,800 urns excavated at this cremation cemetery in Lincolnshire. Uniquely, it bears a runic inscription, which includes what could be a female personal name, SĂŻĂĂŚbĂŚd. This constitutes one of the very earliest pieces of evidence for the English language. You can explore a 3D model of this urn on the Sketchfab website.
The Sutton Hoo gold belt buckle: British Museum, BEP 1939, 1010.1
This exquisite gold belt buckle, excavated in the Sutton Hoo ship burial in the 1930s, is one of the most recognisable objects in our exhibition. The ship-burial included a wealth of other items including armour and weaponry, as well as a collection of silver bowls and two silver spoons which possibly came from Byzantium. This ship-burial commemorated someone of outstanding wealth and political significance in the early 7th century.
Kentish disc brooch: British Museum, BEP 1884,1221.4
Another stunning gold item loaned by the British Museum is this 7th century disc brooch discovered at Faversham, Kent, in 1859. It was found in a womanâs grave, and its gold and garnet style bears many similarities to other elaborate brooches discovered in southern England.
Gold dinar of Offa of Mercia: British Museum, CM 1913,1213.1
The British Museum has also loaned three outstanding coins to the exhibition, which together illustrate the height of Mercian power in the late 8th and early 9th centuries. The coin shown above is the gold dinar of King Offa of Mercia (d. 796). This unique coin carries the inscription OFFA REX on one side; on the other is a design based on an Arabic inscription on a coin of the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur (d. 775). The Arabic inscription translates as âthere is no God but Allah aloneâ; the minting of this coin in Offa's name perhaps reflects his wide political reach and the value he placed on international trade.
Silver penny of Cynethryth of Mercia: British Museum, CM TYS (BMC 60)
This coin was issued in the name of Offaâs wife, Queen Cynethryth (d. 798). It is the only surviving example of a coin issued in the name of an Anglo-Saxon queen.
Gold mancus of Coenwulf of Mercia: British Museum, CM 2006, 0204.1
This gold coin was issued in the name of Offaâs successor, Coenwulf of Mercia (d. 821). Its design closely mirrors other gold and silver coins from the same period. It may be the earliest gold coin intended to form part of a regular, uniform currency.
The Fuller Brooch: British Museum, BEP 1951, 0404.1
The Fuller Brooch has been dated to the late 9th century on account of its unique design, which reflects the centrality of manâs place in the order of creation. The outer circle features four quadrants, each filled with four smaller circles which alternate between depictions of mankind, animals, birds and plants. In the centre are five figures, which are believed to represent each of the five senses. The central figure holds two floriated stems and stares out with prominent eyes, representing sight, and is surrounded by four figures which represent smell, hearing, touch and taste.
The Ădwen Brooch: British Museum, BEP 1951, 1011.1
Another British Museum object in the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition is the Ădwen Brooch, which has been dated to the early 11th century. An inscription in Old English was etched into the outer rim of the reverse: ĂDVÇˇEN ME AG AGE HYO DRIHTEN / DRIHTEN HINE AÇˇERIE ĂE ME HIRE ĂTFERIE / BVTON HYO ME SELLE HIRE AGENES ÇˇILLES ('Ădwen owns me, may the Lord own her. May the Lord curse him who takes me from her, unless she gives me of her own free will').
Silver-gilt fitting with runic inscriptions: British Museum, BEP 1869, 0610.1
A runic inscription is found on this silver-gilt fitting, the shape of which suggests that it may have once been part of a scabbard.
Seax with runic lettering: British Museum BEP 1857, 0623.1
This large iron knife or seax also has a runic inscription. This includes a runic alphabet and the name Beagnoth, who may have been the original owner or the craftsman who produced the blade.
Sword with decorated fittings: British Museum, BEP 1887,0209.1
Another fearsome blade loaned to the exhibition by the British Museum is this magnificent sword, complete with decorated fittings. Although it is extremely rare to find this type of sword in England, they are more common across northern and eastern Europe, suggesting that this sword may have belonged to a Scandinavian warrior.
Seal-matrix of Ălfric: British Museum, BEP 1832, 0512.2
Seal-matrices were used to make an impression in a wax seal to authenticate a document or to close it. This matrix is made of copper alloy and is inscribed + SIGILLUM ĂLFRIC (â+ Seal of Ălfric').
Seal-matrix of Godwine and Godgytha: British Museum, BEP 1881, 0404.1
A second seal-matrix is made from walrus ivory, and is inscribed + SIGILLUM GODWINI MINISTRI (â+ Seal of Godwine the Thegnâ). The matrix was later re-used by a nun, who had her own inscription added on the reverse, reading + SIGILLUM GODGYÄE MONACHE DEO DATE ('+ Seal of Godytha, nun given to Godâ). Godytha may have been Godwine's wife or daughter. Both of these seal-matrices were high status objects, perhaps issued in connection with the performance of official duties on behalf of the king.
Blythburgh writing tablet: British Museum, BEP, 1902, 0315.1
Another extraordinary object loaned to the exhibition by the British Museum is this 8th-century writing tablet, discovered at Blythburgh in Suffolk. Since parchment was relatively expensive to produce, tablets such as these were used when scribes were learning to write, making drafts or taking notes. This tablet is one half of a pair, and the other side would have originally been attached with leather thongs threaded through the two holes in the ling side.
We are extremely grateful to the British Museum for lending these fascinating objects to the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition. They can be viewed at the British Libraryuntil 19 February 2019.
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