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Sceat Series E, 'Vico' type
| Issuer | Frisia |
|---|---|
| Year | 695-740 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Stylized, degenerate bust facing right, rendered in a highly abstract early medieval manner. The head is depicted with pronounced curved lines suggesting drapery or hair radiating outward in sweeping strokes, characteristic of the debased classical tradition found on Frisian sceats. A prominent crescent-like arc frames the facial area, with a series of pellets arranged in radiating lines forming what may represent a simplified portrait. The overall execution is vigorous but schematic, reflecting the artistic conventions of the Series E coinage. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | (uninscribed) |
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| Additional information |
The 'Vico' designation derives from the Latin word for trading settlement — almost certainly a reference to Dorestad, the Frisian emporium on the Rhine that dominated North Sea commerce through the late seventh and early eighth centuries. These sceattas circulated as working currency across a merchant network stretching from England's east coast to the Rhine delta, recovered in significant numbers from riverine and coastal excavation sites that map almost exactly onto known Frisian trade routes.
Series E is the most abundant of all sceatta series by find count, yet individual specimens vary considerably in silver fineness — alloy degradation across the production period is well-documented and reflects no single mint's output.