DOI issue:
Artikuły / Articles
DOI article:Zapolska, Anna: The solidus of Heraclius from Wargen in Sambia – reconsidered
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43282#0170
ANNA ZAPOLSKA
Avars in the early 7* Century. These 7lh-century coins, very numerous in this nomadic
milieu, appear in sepulchral contexts, but also as stray finds, devoid of any traceable
context.8 The enormous amounts of these imports, which continued to come into
Avar possession until as late as the 630s, and their considerable popularity very
likely became the reason for the later emergence of many Barbarian imitations,9
probably at a time when the inflow of this coinage had already come to an end (cf.
below). Among the later finds connected to Avar settlements, there are absolutely no
issues representing the first decade of the reign of Constans II, Heraclius’ successor.
The first solidi that arrived there after this interval were the coins minted during
the second half of the 7* Century, in the 680s.10
An explanation for this Situation can be found in written sources. It is reported
that in the year 626, the Avars received large tribute payments from the Byzantine
Empire; the appearance of solidi in Heraclius’ name could very likely be connected
to this particular event.* 11 After the year 626, the tribute payments were discontinued,
the role of the Byzantine Empire’s beneficiary being assumed during the course
of the 630s by the Onogurs, the Bulgarian tribes settled along the north-eastern coast
of the Black Sea. Payments to the Avars would only be resumed in the 680s, at a time
when the Onogurs began to pose a threat to the Khaganate, following their Crossing
of the Lower Danube in 681 (this thesis is only based on coin finds; no indications that
this happened can be found in written sources). In view of the approaching danger,
the Byzantine Empire madę a deal with the Avars, resulting in the resumption of
tribute payments and the inflow of new coin imports into the Avar Settlement area.12
A considerable number of the solidi in the territories of the Khaganate were
deposited in graves and used as “obols of the dead.”13 This custom has been attested
for the Avar-held territory as well as for Germanie tribes,14 e.g. the Langobards15
and the Germanie tribes that inhabited the Carpathian Basin.16 However, in spite of
the fact that most solidi would be placed in the mouth or beside the head of the dead
body, not all of the pieces found in Avar graves were used in this way. As Somogy
argues, some of the coins would serve as adornments, as necklace parts, as evident
8 SOMOGY 2014: 66-67.
9 Ibidem: 68.
10 Ibidem: 66-68, 87.
11 BONA 1993: 529-538; WOŁOSZYN 2009: 473-530; SOMOGY 2014: 87.
12 Ibidem: 87-88.
13 Ibidem'. 92, 135-159. Byzantine solidi are found in the mouth or next to the head (cf. Ibidem'. 141), which
would give rise to defining their function as so-called “obol of the dead.”
14 Ibidem: 135-139.
15 Ibidem: 154-157.
16 Ibidem: 139-141.
Avars in the early 7* Century. These 7lh-century coins, very numerous in this nomadic
milieu, appear in sepulchral contexts, but also as stray finds, devoid of any traceable
context.8 The enormous amounts of these imports, which continued to come into
Avar possession until as late as the 630s, and their considerable popularity very
likely became the reason for the later emergence of many Barbarian imitations,9
probably at a time when the inflow of this coinage had already come to an end (cf.
below). Among the later finds connected to Avar settlements, there are absolutely no
issues representing the first decade of the reign of Constans II, Heraclius’ successor.
The first solidi that arrived there after this interval were the coins minted during
the second half of the 7* Century, in the 680s.10
An explanation for this Situation can be found in written sources. It is reported
that in the year 626, the Avars received large tribute payments from the Byzantine
Empire; the appearance of solidi in Heraclius’ name could very likely be connected
to this particular event.* 11 After the year 626, the tribute payments were discontinued,
the role of the Byzantine Empire’s beneficiary being assumed during the course
of the 630s by the Onogurs, the Bulgarian tribes settled along the north-eastern coast
of the Black Sea. Payments to the Avars would only be resumed in the 680s, at a time
when the Onogurs began to pose a threat to the Khaganate, following their Crossing
of the Lower Danube in 681 (this thesis is only based on coin finds; no indications that
this happened can be found in written sources). In view of the approaching danger,
the Byzantine Empire madę a deal with the Avars, resulting in the resumption of
tribute payments and the inflow of new coin imports into the Avar Settlement area.12
A considerable number of the solidi in the territories of the Khaganate were
deposited in graves and used as “obols of the dead.”13 This custom has been attested
for the Avar-held territory as well as for Germanie tribes,14 e.g. the Langobards15
and the Germanie tribes that inhabited the Carpathian Basin.16 However, in spite of
the fact that most solidi would be placed in the mouth or beside the head of the dead
body, not all of the pieces found in Avar graves were used in this way. As Somogy
argues, some of the coins would serve as adornments, as necklace parts, as evident
8 SOMOGY 2014: 66-67.
9 Ibidem: 68.
10 Ibidem: 66-68, 87.
11 BONA 1993: 529-538; WOŁOSZYN 2009: 473-530; SOMOGY 2014: 87.
12 Ibidem: 87-88.
13 Ibidem'. 92, 135-159. Byzantine solidi are found in the mouth or next to the head (cf. Ibidem'. 141), which
would give rise to defining their function as so-called “obol of the dead.”
14 Ibidem: 135-139.
15 Ibidem: 154-157.
16 Ibidem: 139-141.