An Anglo-Saxon kingdom had plenty of silver but paid in copper

The Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria switched to copper-alloy coins in the ninth century even though it still had plenty of silver, a new analysis suggests. The change may have made money more useful for everyday purchases, turning an apparent sign of poverty into a clue about how the kingdom’s economy worked. Northumbria covered much of what is now northern England and southern Scotland, and its coins provide valuable insights into the region’s history.