9th century Carolingian "LI" monogram.

This is "LI" monogram from a the start of the Matthew in a gospel book in the British Library (Egerton 609, folio 8r). The text of the manuscript is in Carolingian minuscule, yet this is not at all what one thinks of being "Carolingian". With the knotwork and zoomorphi terminals, this initial is squarely within the Insular tradition represented by the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospels.

Another letter S from St. Gall, 7th or 8th century.

Another zoomorphic letter "S" also made with a compass, this time letter is formed of two birds and a fish. From the same manuscript, and presumably the same scribe as previous letter.

My attempt.

Pen and colored pencil.

Letter S from St. Gall, 7th or 8th century.

Zoomorphic letter "S" from a 7th or 8th century manuscript (St. Gall, Stiftsbibliothek, Cod. Sang. 730) of the Edictus Rothari, the first written compilation of Lombardic law. The letter was obviously drawn using a compass to creating fish from the overlapping arcs.