维多利亚 与鲸鱼共舞

飘荡在午后波光粼粼的加拿大维多利亚海,阳光和煦,海鸥飞着,身边不时有大块头鲸鱼们在大海里上下翻着跟头。 多么希望那一刻时间可以贴心地停住,就一直停格在这样的画面。碧海、蓝天、白云、阳光、海鸥、鲸鱼,还有游人,一幅浪漫别致的图画被镶嵌在那时那地的海阔天空里。[编者按]     

A coin of Queen Fastrada and Charlemagne

A Carolingian coin has recently been acquired by the Centre Charlemagne in Aachen which represents an entirely unexpected and truly historic addition to our knowledge of the reign of Charlemagne, as it bears the name of his wife Fastrada. It is the first known example of a queen being named on a Carolingian coin, and because the coin type was only introduced in 793 and Fastrada died in August 794, it can be very precisely dated. Charles was almost certainly prompted to strike it by learning of pennies of Cynethryth minted by Offa in the late 780s. The coinage reflects both the affection in which Charlemagne held Fastrada and the power he was prepared to share with her.