Western Numismatics and Monetary History

Western Numismatics and Monetary History SWUFE, Summer 2013

INTRODUCTION

The English-language course ‘Western Numismatics and Monetary History’ will be delivered English and will comprise 10 distinct sections covering European coinage and monetary history from the 6th century BC to the early 20th century AD.

Knowledge and Understanding Students who successfully complete this module will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:  The nature of numismatic evidence;  The terminology and concepts of numismatic studies;  The origins and development of Western coinage from the 6th century BC to the early 20th century AD;  Technological and design developments in Western coinage from the 6th century BC to the early 20th century AD.

Learning outcomes  Students who successfully complete this module will be able to:  Discuss the origins and development of Western coinage and money;  Identify, interpret and discuss in a broader historical context the main types on money and coinage used in ancient Europe and in medieval, early-modern and modern Britain;  Demonstrate the main methods by which numismatic evidence is recovered and used;  Demonstrate understanding of the character and limitations of numismatic evidence and the way it is used;  Demonstrate a grasp of underpinning numismatic terminology and concepts.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Section 1: Origins of Western Coinage This section will explore the origins of coined money in Asia Minor (Turkey) and its spread through the Greek and Celtic worlds during the period up to the 1st century AD. Attention will also be paid to trade links and to both the individual localised coinages of Greek city states and to the development of imperial and royal coinage systems under Alexander the Great of Macedon and his successors. Sections 2 & 3: Roman Coinage These sections will explore the origins and growth of the Roman empire and discuss the development and functioning of Rome’s Imperial coinage system: a unified and centralised system which by the 3rd century AD was in use throughout Europe and in both North Africa and much of the Near East. Section 4: Early Medieval Coinage This section will explore the breakdown of Rome’s centralised coinage system and its major influence on the development of new currencies in both Europe and the Near and Middle East. Particular attention will be paid to the Byzantine Empire, with its capital in Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) and to its role in influencing both western and eastern trade and culture. Section 5: Later Medieval Coinage This section will explore the development of mature medieval coinage systems throughout Europe prior to c1500 AD. Particular focus will be directed towards the English system, but reference will also be made to parallel developments in Continental Europe and to international trade and exchange. Section 6: Early Modern Coinage This section will explore the development of European coinage systems and trade networks from 1450 to 1700. Attention will be paid to developments in art and design (including the influence of the Italian Renaissance); to developments in technology and to the growth of international trade and banking. Section 7: Coinage and Money to 1914 With a special focus on the British gold sovereign and the Bank of England, his section will explore development of coins and banknotes in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The use of the gold sovereign in international trade will be discussed, as will the parallel roles of both paper money and coinage in the British Empire and beyond. Section 8: Design and Technology This section will reflect on previous lectures and trace the development of European coinage design and technology from the C6th BC to C19th AD. Attention will also be paid to the process of assaying and to the measures taken to ensure the purity and weight of precious metal coins. Section 9: Coins, Archaeologists and Museums This section will look at how archaeologists use coins to inform our understanding of the past and how coins can be cared for, displayed and interpreted in museums. Section 10: Review This section will review the entire course, summarise key points and allow students the opportunity to ask questions and to develop specific topics.

PROFESSOR

Dr Craig Barclay is currently Curator of Durham University Museums, having previously held posts at Aberdeen University; the Royal Mint; the British Museum; the Yorkshire Museum; and the Hull and East Riding Museum. He holds a Higher National Certificate in Heritage Management (Bishop Burton College); a Postgraduate Certificate in Management and Leadership (Leeds Metropolitan University); an MA degree in Psychology (Aberdeen University); an MLitt degree in Classical Archaeology (Aberdeen University); and a PhD in History (University of York). He has served as a UK Government (DCMS) Adviser on Treasure (1996- 2004); as an Honorary Research Associate, Department of Archaeology, Durham University (2005-8) and as an NAS Tutor (Advanced Diploma in Underwater Archaeology).

Significant conference presentations have included papers delivered at the 1999 Annual Conference of ICOMON in Madrid; the National Museum of Switzerland, Zurich (2000); Annual Conference of the Institute of Field Archaeologists in Newcastle (2001); International Numismatic Congress in Madrid (2003); International Seminar on Boat and Ship Archaeology in Roskilde (2003); “Coinage of Constantine” Seminar in York (2006); “My Hero” (Defining and Constructing non-Military Heroism) Conference in London (2009); Presentation to Chinese museum professionals, Beijing (2010); International Astronomy Conference in Durham (2011) and “Moneta Britannia 2011” Conference in York. He has been elected to the Fellowship of a number of academic Societies including the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), the Royal Numismatic Society (FRNS) and Royal Asiatic Society (FRAS).

Research Interests  Roman and Byzantine coinage (300BC- AD 1100)  British medieval and early modern coinage (AD 1100-1900)  Coin and medal design  Lifesaving medals and 18th & 19th century emergency aid organisations Books: authored & edited  Barclay, C. and Besly, E. 1994. A Little Barrel of Ducatoons: the Civil War Coinage of Scotland. York: Yorkshire Museum.  Barclay, C. 1998. The Medals of the Royal Humane Society. London: Royal Humane Society.  Barclay, C. and Fevyer, W. (eds.) 2002. Acts of Gallantry Vol. 3. Uckfield: Naval & Military Press.  Barclay, C., Grocke, R. and Armstrong, H., (eds.), 2010 Treasures of the Oriental Museum, Durham University. Third Millennium/Durham University. International Publications  Barclay, C. “Tsar Alexander I and the Royal Humane Society”, Proceedings of the 10th All-Russia Numismatic Congress (State Historical Museum, Moscow, 2004).  Barclay, C. and Young, F., ‘William Wyon and the Life-Saving Medal in Nineteenth Century Britain’, XIII Congresos Internacional de Numismatics: Resumenes de las Communicaciones, (Minesterio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte, Madrid, 2003).  Barclay, C., contributions to Reeves, N, (ed.), Egyptian Art at Eton College and Durham University (Tokyo, 2008), catalogue entries 81-85. Recent Publications  Barclay C., ‘The Coins: A Review of the Medieval Coins and Jettons from Wharram Percy’ in Mays, S., Harding, C., & Heighway, C. (eds.) Wharram 9: The Churchyard (York University, 2007), 301-04.  Barclay, C., Holmes, S and & McCartney, L., “Langtoft I, East Yorkshire”, Coin Hoards from Roman Britain, 12, (Wetteren, 2009), 208-25.  Barclay, C, Holmes, S and & McCartney, L., “Langtoft II, East Yorkshire”, Coin Hoards from Roman Britain, 12, (Wetteren, 2009) , 254-60.  Barclay C., “Haxby B (addenda), York”, Coin Hoards from Roman Britain, 12 (Wetteren, 2009), 304-05.  Barclay C. & Crawley, G., “Little Smeaton, North Yorkshire”, Coin Hoards from Roman Britain, 12, (Wetteren, 2009), 313-15.  Barclay C., “Thirsk area, North Yorkshire”, Coin Hoards from Roman Britain, 12, (Wetteren, 2009), 359-60.  Barclay, C., “Cattal, North Yorkshire (addenda)”, Coin Hoards from Roman Britain, 12, (Wetteren, 2009), 375-76.  Barclay, C., “The Coins”, in Fraser, J. & Bringham, T. “A Romano-British and Medieval Site at Eastgate South, Driffield”, East Riding Archaeologist,12 (2009), 183.  Barclay, C., A Parcel of Marian Groats from Paull”, East Riding Archaeologist, 12 (2009), 403.  Barclay C., Clark, E.A. and Sitch, B. ‘The Coins: Note on the Roman and Medieval Coins’ in Harding, C., Marlow-Mann, E. and Wrathmell, S. (eds.) Wharram 14: The Post-Medieval Farm and Vicarage Sites (York University, 2010), 252.  Barclay C., Clark, E.A. and Sitch, B. ‘The Coins: A Review of the Medieval Coins and Jettons from Wharram Percy’ in Harding, C., Marlow-Mann, E. and Wrathmell, S. (eds.) Wharram 14: The Post-Medieval Farm and Vicarage Sites (York University, 2010), 253-55.  Barclay, C., Grocke, R. and Armstrong, H., (eds.) Treasures of the Oriental Museum, Durham University (Third Millennium/Durham University, 2010).  Barclay, C., contributions to Richardson, J., ‘Bronze Age Cremations, Iron Age and Roman Settlement and Early Medieval Inhumations at the Langeled Receiving Facilities, Easington, East Riding of Yorkshire’, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal 83, 2011, 59-100.