This edited collection analyses the phenomenon of coin use for religious and ritual purposes in different cultures and across different periods of time. It proposes an engagement with the theory and interpretation of the âmaterial turnâ with numismatic evidence and an evidence-based series of discussions to offer a fuller richer and fresh account of coin use in ritual contexts. No extensive publication has previously foregrounded coins in such a model despite the fact that coins constitute an integrated part of the material culture of most societies today and of many in the past. Here interdisciplinary discussions are organised around three themes: coin deposit and ritual practice the coin as economic object and divine mediator and the value and meaning of coin offering. Although focusing on the medieval period in Western Europe the book includes instructive cases from the Roman period until today. The collection brings together well-established and emerging scholars from archaeology art history ethnology history and numismatics and great weight is given to material evidence which can complement and contradict the scarce written sources. . Language: English