Medieval English Coins Unearthed in Rome May Prove 'Little England' Enclave
A collection of 20 medieval coins unearthed in Rome could point to an English settlement near the Vatican. Located in the garden of the Palazzo della Rovere, the find consists of 19 silver pennies and one halfpenny, originating from East Anglia, Kent, London, and the West Midlands, all dating back to the tenth century and depicting kings Edward the Elder, Athelstan, and Eadred. Rory Naismith from the University of Cambridge noted that the number of Anglo-Saxon coins discovered in Rome surpasses that of papal coins, indicating notable English economic activity. This discovery reinforces the presence of Rome's Schola Saxonum, an English community from the eighth century, highlighting their economic autonomy and currency usage.
Key facts
- 20 medieval coins were found in Rome's Palazzo della Rovere, comprising 19 silver pennies and one halfpenny.
- The coins date to the tenth century and bear the names of kings Edward the Elder, Athelstan, and Eadred.
- They were minted in East Anglia, Kent, London, and the West Midlands.
- 14 coins were found clumped in two groups; the others were scattered nearby.
- The discovery may be the first physical evidence of the Schola Saxonum, an English enclave near the Vatican.
- The Schola Saxonum was founded in the eighth century in the Leonine City, between the Vatican and the Tiber River.
- Researchers also found evidence of leather-, bone-, and metal-working, suggesting hundreds of full-time residents.
- The halfpenny's presence suggests everyday transactions and economic independence for the English residents.
Entities
Artists
- Rory Naismith
- Francesca Tinti
- Edward the Elder
- Athelstan
- Eadred
- Alfred the Great
- Nero
- James Woodford
- Kaya Burgess
- Christian Thorsberg
Institutions
- University of Cambridge
- University of the Basque Country
- Soprintendenza Speciale Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio di Roma
- Palazzo della Rovere
- New Scientist
- London Times
- Smithsonian Magazine
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Vatican
- Leonine City
- Tiber River
- East Anglia
- Kent
- London
- West Midlands
- United Kingdom
- Melbourne
- Australia
- San Francisco
- United States
- Chicago