Krščanska simbologija na slovenskih srednjeveških novcih (5.del). 7. Angeli. Christian Simbology on Slovenian Medieval Coins (5 th Part). 7. Angels.

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Summary

CHRISTIAN SIMBOLOGY ON SLOVENIAN MEDIEVAL COINS (5th Part)

ANGELS

Angels are spiritual creatures of superior intelligence and intermediaries between God and man. For a long

time in early Christians’ artworks it was prohibited to represent angels with wings, in order not to confuse them with

Nike (Victory) or Agathe Tyche (Glory) that were commonly used by Roman emperors. Motives of angels are often

represented on Slovenian medieval coins, which were minted in Breže (Friesach), Kamnik, Slovenj Gradec, Ptuj,

Brežice, Brestanica-Reichenburg, Kostanjevica, Sv. Križ pri Kostanjevici and Otok-Gutenwerth. Some numismatics, for

example Vladimir Travner and Egon Baumgartner, have mentioned this symbol, but only Andrej Rant has analysed in

detail the symbol of the archangel Michael on a coin minted in Otok-Gutenwert.

Archangel Michael is certainly the mostly represented angel on Friesach coins and in many churches of the 6th

century, he is commonly shown with archangel Gabriel. In Germany, St. Michael’s day (29th September) has been

celebrated since 9th century. St. Michael was considered to be the supreme angel and commander of the celestial

hierarchies fighting against Satan. The half bust of an angel was often reproduced on Breže (Friesach) coins and later

copied by other mints (Fig. 2). In some cases it is reproduced above a tower or helmet crest (Fig. 3). When represented

with a sort of an edifice or temple above his head, it may denote his role as protector of a certain city or church. In some

cases the angel holds an object in his hands, for example a sword or a lance. These attributes indicate that the angel is

St. Michael (Fig. 5 and 6). On a coin the angel holds a cross in his hand and above him there are three arcs with a cross,

which may symbolize clouds or heaven (Fig. 7). Saint Michael’s day used to represent the beginning of autumn, when

fairs and livestock markets were held.

On a coin attributed to the mint of Slovenj Gradec, an angel holds in his right hand a twig - probably a lily. In

this case the represented angel is archangel Gabriel, who announced to the Virgin Mary the birth of Jesus and is often

represented with a lily in his hand.

On some coins the angel’s half bust is encircled by the word SERAPHI. Seraphim are special angels and

custodians of holy places. The reason, why the word SERAPHI is written around the angel, is not definitely clear.

Perhaps it was a recurrent word referred to angels.

On several coins attributed to the mint of Otok-Gutenwerth the angel holds a book in his hands (Fig. 10),

probably “the book of life”, which includes the names of those, who will be saved by God’s judgment. The angel

holding a book may also possibly symbolize Matthew the Evangelist. Similar representations of an angel holding a

book in or between his hands are to be find on a mosaic of the 5th century at the archbishop’s chapel in Ravenna and on

a capital of the 14th century in the Castle of Buonconsiglio Museum in Trento. In these latter cases, the angels holding a

book symbolize Matthew the Evangelist.

At the mint of Otok- Gutenwerth Henry IV, Duke of Merania, coined a peculiar type of coin, which on its

reverse side shows the half bust of a tunic-dressed man and a half bust of an angel. This representation is almost

certainly a symbol of Matthew the Evangelist. The only reason, why this saint was represented on coins, is to be found

in his role as protector of tax collectors, accountants, moneychangers and bankers. Matthew himself served as a tax

collector, that is way he has been associated with toll gates that were surely erected in the towns close to the mints.