S.874 Ecgberht II

Penny of Ecgberht II, king of Kent ca. 765-780
Moneyer: Udd
Mint: Canterbury
S. 874
Chick 87b (this coin)
O: +EGCBERHT Rx
R: VDD

Ecgberht II of Kent, probably a descendant of Ecgberht, king of Kent in the 7th century, is a little known figure, but one of the earliest individuals to place his name on the coinage. He is in the historical record because he stood witness to a few treaties, but otherwise nothing is known of him. He may have been co-ruler with another individual, Heaberht, who also struck some early pennies. Ecgberht's coinage is among the earliest of the English broad pennies/deniers, that followed the sceatta coinage.

Ex- M.Rasmussen, Canterbury Auction, J.N.Cross, Spink 9 Oct 2002 (965), found Chartham, Kent 1988