Coinage and State Formation in Early Modern English Literature (Early Modern Cultural Studies 1500–1700)

This book posits that coins and their (especially literary) representations were inextricably bound with several key factors for English state formation within the period. After surveying various definitions and histories of the “state” within the first chapter, this book identifies five major dimensions of state formation which correspond to the five chapters of the book: centralized institutional developments; the limits and extent of state and monarchical authority according to custom, reason and natural law; the development and expansion of a legal framework, in particular statute law, for moral regulation and upholding of state prerogatives; the political theology of state evident especially in the charisma of kingship; and the territorial boundaries of state authority, including their impact on intra-state relations. Most of the chapters marry an element of coinage and a literary text (or set of texts) to one of the key factors in English state formation.

This book posits that coins and their (especially literary) representations were inextricably bound with several key factors for English state formation within the period. After surveying various definitions and histories of the “state” within the first chapter, this book identifies five major dimensions of state formation which correspond to the five chapters of the book: centralized institutional developments; the limits and extent of state and monarchical authority according to custom, reason and natural law; the development and expansion of a legal framework, in particular statute law, for moral regulation and upholding of state prerogatives; the political theology of state evident especially in the charisma of kingship; and the territorial boundaries of state authority, including their impact on intra-state relations. Most of the chapters marry an element of coinage and a literary text (or set of texts) to one of the key factors in English state formation.

Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 List of Figures......Page 10 List of Abbreviations and Note on the Text......Page 12 Series Editors’ Foreword......Page 14 Acknowledgments......Page 16 Introduction: Rough Economies—The Politics and Poetics of Coinage......Page 18 1 Dimensions of State Formation......Page 40 2 More’s Utopia and the Logic of Debasement: Reason, Custom, and Natural Laws of Coinage......Page 76 3 The Great Debasement and Its Aftermath......Page 104 4 Coining Crimes and Moral Regulation in Measure for Measure......Page 120 5 “Mysteries of State”: The Political Theology of Coinage in Macbeth......Page 152 6 Foreign Coins and Domestic Exclusion in Thomas Dekker’s The Shoemaker’s Holiday......Page 178 Conclusion: The Changing Matter of Money......Page 204 Notes......Page 214 Works Cited......Page 260 Index......Page 276 Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of Figures 10 List of Abbreviations and Note on the Text 12 Series Editors’ Foreword 14 Acknowledgments 16 Introduction: Rough Economies—The Politics and Poetics of Coinage 18 1 Dimensions of State Formation 40 2 More’s Utopia and the Logic of Debasement: Reason, Custom, and Natural Laws of Coinage 76 3 The Great Debasement and Its Aftermath 104 4 Coining Crimes and Moral Regulation in Measure for Measure 120 5 “Mysteries of State”: The Political Theology of Coinage in Macbeth 152 6 Foreign Coins and Domestic Exclusion in Thomas Dekker’s The Shoemaker’s Holiday 178 Conclusion: The Changing Matter of Money 204 Notes 214 Works Cited 260 Index 276 0230110231,9780230110236 Palgrave Macmillan, 2011 A reassessment of the historic relation between money and the state through the lens of early modern English literature, Coinage and State Formation examines the political implications of the monetary form in light of material and visual properties of coins as well as the persistence of both intrinsic and extrinsic theories of value.