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Author Topic: viking/saxon coin, have you seen one in pewter?  (Read 1470 times)

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Offline monty

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viking/saxon coin, have you seen one in pewter?
« on: January 30, 2008, 03:36:26 am »
hi, i was wondering if anyone here has ever seen a coin like this before. i posted it a while ago on I.D help, but no one knew.

it is obviously in viking/saxon style of types used in Britain the the 10th/11th centuries.

the problem is it is struck in pewter or a similar metal rather than silver, with an integral copper plug. i cant find any record of a similar coin. i was told it had been found in Worcestershire.

the copper plug goes against the theory it is a forgery, i just cant think why it would have been produced.

many thanks,  ade

Offline Bacchus

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Re: viking/saxon coin, have you seen one in pewter?
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2008, 03:12:19 pm »
Not my area, but it reminds me of a 16th - 17th century token I saw a long time ago - like a boy bishops penny - though it was based on an English penny - but a communion token of some kind perhaps

Malcolm

Offline monty

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Re: viking/saxon coin, have you seen one in pewter?
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2008, 03:09:17 am »
hi malcolm,

thank you for the posting.

i know the tokens you mean, normally with a long cross reverse. i used to see them from time to time iwhen i was in a  metal detecting clib.

i dont think this is connected, it looks almost official, and the copper plug puzzles me.

thanks,  ade

Offline Bacchus

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Re: viking/saxon coin, have you seen one in pewter?
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2008, 03:24:58 am »
Hi Ade,

Yes I know what you mean - it is a bit different - those tokens are worth a bit so perhaps you should keep up with the detecting. 

It could have been nailed to something (a door lintel perhaps) as a charm, and then filled in again later - though it is puzzleing as to why bother. 

The reverse looks semi official, certainly based on a real coin at least, the obverse looks more amateurish though I can see the similarity with coins of, say Offa etc.

Maybe those helpful people at the BM could provide a clue?

Malcolm

Offline monty

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Re: viking/saxon coin, have you seen one in pewter?
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2008, 03:32:16 am »
hi malcolm,

i think your right about the BM.

 i will let you know there opinion when i get one.

kind regards,  ade

Offline AlexB

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Re: viking/saxon coin, have you seen one in pewter?
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2008, 09:37:53 am »
Hi

It could be a modern copy or maybe a measuring weight of some sort? It is in the style of C9/10th AD though more likely C10thAD.

I cant read the legends otherwise that might help, probably says a blundered form of 'Alfred' on obverse, albeit that is C9thAD. The reverse reads W__RED? The Vikings produced alot of oddities in the style of Alfred's coins in the Danelaw area. BM would have a good idea or Fitzwilliam - Mark Blackburn/Martin Allen, see their website.

Brgds

Alex
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