styca
{{Short description|Early medieval coin}}
File:Kings of Northumbria AE Styca Aethelred II.jpg]]
The styca ({{IPA|ang|ˈstykɑ|pron}}; {{abbr|pl|plural}}. stycas) was a small coin minted in pre-Viking Northumbria, originally in base silver and subsequently in a copper alloy. Production began in the 790s and continued until the 850s, though the coin remained in circulation until the Viking conquest of Northumbria in 867.
Etymology
The coin's name derives from Old English styċċe {{IPA|ang|ˈstyttʃe|}}, meaning "piece."{{cite web| url = https://www.encyclopedia.com/plants-and-animals/plants/plants/stock-botany| title = Stock (botany) {{!}} Encyclopedia.com}}
History
Stycas were first minted in the reign of Æthelred I of Northumbria (790–796), replacing the earlier sceat which ceased production in c. 790.Cook, Williams, and Archibald, p. 213 They were initially made from a debased alloy of silver, and from c. 830 until c. 835 they were also minted in a copper alloy. Production switched over entirely to copper in c. 837 and lasted until c. 855. Production ceased at this time, though the coin remained in circulation until the Viking conquest of Northumbria in 867.Cook, Williams, and Archibald, p. 214 Stycas were unique to Northumbria; from the late eighth century onwards the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms minted only silver pennies based on the Frankish denier.Davies, p. 125; Spink, p. 101 The vast number of copper stycas which are known to exist indicates that production from the 830s onwards was both intensive and constant. The large quantity of stycas produced, combined with the fact that large numbers of stycas are clearly of unofficial creation, might suggest a reason as to why production was halted in the reign of Osberht of Northumbria.
Design
With a few exceptions, the various issues of stycas share a common design standard. Typically the name of the issuing king (or archbishop) appears on one side surrounding a central motif, and the name of the moneyer who made the coin appears on the other side. Common central motifs include simple cruciform designs and rings of annulets.{{Cite book|last=Pirie, Elizabeth J. E. (Elizabeth Jean Elphinstone), 1932-2005.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38338882|title=Coins of the Kingdom of Northumbria c.700-867 in the Yorkshire collections : the Yorkshire Museum, York, the University of Leeds, the City Museum, Leeds|date=1996|publisher=Galata|isbn=0-9516671-4-9|location=Llanfyllin, Powys|oclc=38338882}} Exceptions include those stycas made by the moneyer Leofdegn during the reign of Æthelred II of Northumbria. These stycas feature much more elaborate designs including complex central cruciform devices and one issue in particular features both a hound and a triquetra on the same side.Spink, pp. 103–105
Hoards
Hoards that consist of stycas, or where stycas are part of the assemblage, include:
See also
{{Portal|Money}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book|last=Davies|first=Glyn|title=History of Money|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cU2uBwAAQBAJ|date=1 September 2010|publisher=University of Wales Press|isbn=978-0-7083-2379-3|ref=Davies}}
- {{cite book|editor-last=Skingley|editor-first=Philip|title=Coins of England & the United Kingdom: Standard Catalogue of British Coins 2015|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0w8xrgEACAAJ|date=2014|publisher=Spink & Sons Ltd|isbn=978-1-907427-43-5|ref=Spink}}
- {{cite book|last1=Cook|first1=Barrie J.|last2=Williams|first2=Gareth|last3=Archibald|first3=Marion|title=Coinage And History in the North Sea World, C. AD 500–1250: Essays in Honour of Marion Archibald|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X-qvyzsUkRsC&pg=PA216|year=2006|publisher=BRILL|isbn=90-04-14777-2|ref=CWA}}
{{Coins of England}}