Graves with coins in the Carolingian Empire

Abstract

Carolingian coins (denars and oboli) do not only occur in graves with few burial-goods of persons who lived in the north-eastern areas of the east Frankish kingdom, as has been asserted hitherto. Rather, they bear
witness to a burial custom spread throughout the Carolingian Empire (751-911), although at difference periods with alternating intensity and in changing landscapes. Following humble beginnings under Pepin III (the Short), the custom of placing coins in graves spread under Charlemagne  and especially under Louis the Pious into almost all regions of their empire, without, however, ever reaching a mass phenomenon. Already during the reign of Charles III (the Bald) the custom withdrew to the west Frankish kingdom. From the late 9th century onwards it was only very rarely used, however, it nevertheless did not completely disappear.
Usually one gave the deceased Christians a single denar or obolus, sometimes a few coins and occasionally even hoards in the graves. These coins certainly point to a degree of comfort, but only rarely to a high social rank of the deceased. Although the position of the single coins in the Carolingian graves often corresponds to those of late Roman oboli, they did not represent testimonies to continuing heathen belief. Rather, a silver coin adorned with the cross of Christ and the ruler’s name was not only to prove to Peter at heaven’s gate that the dead person was a believing Christian, but also a follower of an important Carolingian and, thus, was a helping recommendation.