OK.... So I been deeply steeped into US coinage almost my entire life. This ancient part of the forum has intrigued me since I joined CT. The history you guys display here is just jaw dropping and I been thinking on a specific period of history that intrigues me. I keep coming back to the medieval period. Knights, armor, quest, jousting (those were real men!)....... So I am a believer in getting a foundation before I undertake this new quest. And now that I have rambled so....... Is there a “Redbook” of sorts for medieval coinage where I can begin to educate myself before I start burning through my modern cash?
I doubt there's a single book containing everything. You might need to be more specific and choose a region and a period. And as I said long time ago, ancients and medieval should be two different forums.
Sounds like a fun avenue! There are several people here who specialize in medieval coins. For starters you might browse this Featured thread by @FitzNigel: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/fitzs-medieval-book-review.286343/
Most books covering medieval coins will focus on a country or region. For English coins, the universal reference is The Standard Catalogue of British Coins which is published annually by Spink and is similar to a U.S. Redbook. Old editions, from a few years back, can be purchased for very little money. Spink also has a volume for Scottish, Irish, and Anglo-Gallic coins. There is also a volume for the coins of Hungary, Poland, and Bohemia.
Agree with all of the above. Being a generalist in medieval coins is difficult because there are so many different varieties and many volumes written about the coins. I have often thought how I would write an introduction/generalists guide. Torongo gets close, but that book frustrates me. Do you have a geographical region of interest? There are certainly more books than those contained in the thread TIF linked to
I am drawn to the medieval history of Great Britain and have decided I am going to begin my quest with the book offered by @TheRed.
Good start - be forewarned that many people enjoy British Coins, and they are often expensive. Once the Spink book has roped you in there are more specialized volumes depending on your interest. There is a treasure trove of literature on Anglo-Saxon coins, but if your interest is in knights, then you’ll probably be more interested in later periods (not quite as much written, but plenty out there. Galata guides on Edward coins, there are smaller guides to short cross coins, and long cross.). Have fun! Show us your first coin when you nab one
