The Forum Hoard and Beyond: Money, Gift, and Religion in the Early Middle Ages

摘要

The Forum hoard of Anglo-Saxon silver coins, deposited in Rome in the 940s, is remarkable for including a pair of fasteners inscribed with the name of the intended recipient, Pope Marinus II. This unique find prompts consideration of the material manifestation of early medieval gift-giving. Inscriptions placed on donated objects served an important function, commemorating the act and fixing its interpretation. This applied both to gifts which stood a good chance of being kept intact, and to “transitory” gifts such as food and money, which were handed over in much the same setting but would soon be consumed or spent. The Forum hoard is a rare identifiable example of the latter. The final part of this article considers how such monetary gifts were understood in relation to contemporary thought on the interface between Christian religion and economy.