S.866 Æthelred II (Leofthegn)

Styca of Æthelred II, king of Northumbria (first reign) 841-844
Moneyer: Leofthegn
Mint: York (presumably)
S. 866
Leofthegn's "Special" motif: hound on reverse
O: +EDILRED REX
R: LEOF DEG И
Motif: 1a/fantastic animal, triquetra

The most impressive imagery to find itself on a styca. Despite a nearly universal preference for "plain-ness" and simplicity on the styca coins, a certain moneyer called Leofthegn (literally "beloved retainer") produced a small and remarkable series of coins with "special designs." These include the letters Alpha and Omega, and a variety of different types of crosses. But by far the most impressive is this one, featuring a creature looking backwards with the moneyer's name in three rows. This creature may be meant to be something of a revival of the "fantastic animal" design of the earlier 8th century coins of Aldfrith, Eadberht, Alchred, Æthelred I, and Aelfwald. Unfortunately, the artistic inclinations shown by this Leofthegn were not copied by his contemporaries, and the coin remains unique therefore in the styca series.

Only one die is known for this coin, and it is quite rare.

Ex- CNG Triton XXI, Dr. JDR, SNC 2/1993, Spink Auction 1, RC Lockett, T Bliss