England - Kent, Mercia, and East Anglia
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S.874 Ecgberht IIPenny 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 1988St. George's Collection
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S.877 Cuthred (Eaba)Penny of Cuthred, king of Kent 798-807
Moneyer: Eaba
Mint: Canterbury
S. 905
O: +CVDRED REX CANTI
R: +EABA MONETA
Ex- Triton XXVII (lot 1231), Causeway collection, Sovereign Rarities (BM01794)St. George's Collection
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S.878 Anonymous kings of KentPenny of Kent ca. 822-823
Moneyer: Swefheard
Mint: Canterbury
S. 878
Naismith C55.1e (this coin)
O: +SVVE[F]HERD MONETA
R: +/DORO/BERNIA/CIVITA/S
This rare anonymous coinage, thought to date to the period from 822-823, depicts a standard regal portrait, but names no king, only the city of Canterbury. The moneyer's name features on the obverse. This is thought to have been produced somewhere between the reigns of Ceolwulf of Mercia and Baldred. Unfortunately not much is known of this period in recorded history, but Kent seems to have kicked out the Mercian overlordship.
Ex- Heritage 232251 (lot 64493), Baldwin's 93 (lot 11), Glendining 13 Mar 1974 (lot 62), WF Rose, Glendining 22-23 Mar 1944 (lot 897 [part]), Lord Grantley, LA LawrenceSt. George's Collection
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S.886A Coenwulf with Archbishop ÆthelheardPenny of Æthelheard, Archbishop of Canterbury 793-796, 803-805, with Coenwulf, King of Mercia 796-821
Second Archepiscopate 803-805
Fifth issue
Mint: Canterbury
S.886A
N.232
Naismith C22.1j
O: +COENVVLF REX M
R: +AEDILHEARD AR EP
Æthelheard had a troubled time as Archbishop of Canterbury. Shortly after Offa of Mercia's death, Kent fell out of the Mercian sphere of influence and asserted its independence under Eadberht Praen. Æthelheard, who owed his position to the Mercians and was no friend to Eadberht, took refuge in Mercia. However, he found himself in a tricky position, as his predecessor Jaenberht had long feuded with Offa, leading to the latter creating a rival see in Lichfield with its own archbishop. Æthelheard found himself in exile and not even the top dog in Mercia.
It would take some time for the situation to improve, but eventually the new Mercian king, Coenwulf, was able to restore Mercian rule over Canterbury and restore Æthelheard. Meanwhile Æthelheard went to Rome to petition the pope to demote the rival Archbishopric in Lichfield, which was ultimately done, leaving Canterbury's archbishop the head of ecclesiastic matters in England, a situation that essentially has continued to this day. In 803, Æthelheard returned and was able to resume his position for a short time before his death.
Æthelheard struck coins with Offa and Coenwulf. It is not clear whether there were any coins of his made in his lengthy absence, and there are several different varieties, but all are pretty rare suggesting that the coinage volume was pretty small.
Ex- Wolfshead Gallery, Spink 18011 (lot 9), A Williams, SNC 12-1991 (7953), D Chick, found Dunmow, Essex, 1988, EMC 2001.0976St. George's Collection
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S.889 Wulfred (Swefheard)Penny of Wulfred, Archbishop of Canterbury 805-832
Moneyer: Swefheard
Mint: Canterbury
S. 889
Naismith C47.2f (this coin)
O: +VVLFREDA RCHIEPI
R: +SVVEFHERD MONETA
This coin, featuring Wulfred's portrait, is likely from the WL Gantz collection, but has had some additional edge loss since its appearance in 1941.
Ex- A Taylor, Heritage 61305 (lot 23071), Historical Scholar Collection, Spink 5014 (lot 1300), NCirc 7/1992 (4163), NCirc 6/1991 (3555), NCirc 11/1987 (6376), Spink 6 (lot 260), CJ Firth, Glendining 23 Jun 1941 (lot 1007), WL GantzSt. George's Collection
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S.905 Offa (Duda)Penny of Offa, king of Mercia 757-796
Moneyer: Duda
Mint: Probably London
S. 905
O: + OFFA + REX +
R: + D V D
Ex- CNG eAuction 436 (lot 997), found Harston, Cambridgeshire, 2008St. George's Collection
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S.908 Offa (Æthelnoth)Penny of Offa, king of Mercia 757-796
Moneyer: Æthelnoth
Mint: Probably Canterbury
S. 908
O: M +OFFA REX
R: + EÞELÞ NO
King Offa was responsible for the first pennies produced in England, which were modeled on the continental European deniers. He created a very varied series of coins, some of which have portrait and others like this without one.
This heavy coinage of Offa is generally believed to have been produced at Canterbury. Æthelnoth was one of Offa's more prolific moneyers.
Ex- Studio Coins, Morton & Eden Auction 91 (lot 24), Archbishop John SharpSt. George's Collection
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S.914 Coenwulf (Seberht)Penny of Coenwulf, king of Mercia 796-821
Moneyer: Seberht
Mint: Probably Canterbury
S. 914
O: +COENVVLF R'EX M
R: +SE BE RHT
The tribrach type was produced for Coenwulf, as well as Cuthred and Eadberht Praen of Kent, and Eadwald of East Anglia
Ex- M. VosperSt. George's Collection
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S.920 Coenwulf (Wodel)Penny of Coenwulf, king of Mercia 796-821
Moneyer: Wodel
Mint: East Anglia, possibly Ipswich
S. 920
Naismith E13.3d (this coin)
O: +COENVVLF REX m
R: +PO+d+E+LT
Ex- AMR Coins, Spink 21 Nov 1995 (lot 54), NCirc Dec 1994 (lot 7880)St. George's Collection
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S.927 Ceolwulf I (Werbald)Penny of Ceolwulf I, king of Mercia 821-823
Moneyer: Werbald
Mint: East Anglia, possible Ipswich
S. 927
N. 388
Naismith E18f (same dies)
O: +CEOVVLF REX m
R: PER BALD mONE
Ceolwulf I, brother of Coenwulf, succeeded to the throne of Mercia, Kent, and East Anglia after his brother's death. He did produce coins in London, Canterbury, and East Anglia. Despite multiple mints, but due to the brevity of his reign, coins of Ceolwulf are very rare.
This moneyer, Werbald, also coined for Ceolwulf's successors Beornwulf and Ludica
Ex- BSJ Auction 38 (lot 1017)St. George's Collection
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S.930 Beornwulf (Eadgar)Penny of Beornwulf, king of Mercia 823-826
Moneyer: Eadgar
Mint: East Anglia, possible Ipswich
Group III
S. 930
N. 396
Naismith E22.1
O: +DEORVVLF RE
R: EAD +.+ GAR
Another little known king of Mercia, Beornwulf was another in succession of short lived kings of Mercia following the death of Coenwulf. His defeat at the battle of Ellendun spelled the end of Mercian dominance over southern England. The minor kingdoms of Sussex and Essex switched their loyalty to Wessex, and East Anglia declared its independence. It was during the suppression of the East Angles that Beornwulf was killed in battle. The most dominant of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the 8th century, by the end of the 9th century Mercia itself would be little more than a territory of Wessex
Ex- Spink 19007 (lot 34), J.Philpotts, EMC 2019.0347St. George's Collection
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S.932 Ludica (Eadgar)Penny of Ludica, king of Mercia 826-827
Moneyer: Eadgar
Mint: East Anglia (Ipswich?)
S.932
O: +LV[DIC]A REX
R: EADGAR
Ludica was a shadowy king of Mercia, who was not obviously related to any of the prior dynasties, but who took control in the chaotic 820s after the death of Beornwulf. Ludica attempted to put down a rebellion in East Anglia, but ended up suffering the same fate as his predecessor- dying in battle against the East Angles.
Due to the brevity of Ludica's reign, his coins are exceptionally rare, with less than 10 known. One was made in London, then a Mercian town but a minor mint, the others were from the East Anglian mint, probably located in Ipswich.
Ex- Noonans auction 293 (lot 98), found Beeston, Nottinghamshire, 2016St. George's Collection
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S.934 Wiglaf (Redmund)Penny of Wiglaf, king of Mercia (second reign) 830-839
Moneyer: Redmund
Mint: Probably London
S. 934
N 401.2
O: +VVIGLAF REX M
R: N +REDMV D
Penny of Wiglaf, king of Mercia. Wiglaf was king from 827-839. His reign was interrupted from 829-830 by the conquest of Mercia by Ecgberht of Wessex, who took London in 829. The occupation was short lived however, and Wiglaf regained his throne the next year.
Despite a relatively long rule (compared to other 9th century Mercian kings), coins of Wiglaf are excessively rare. There are two major types, one with a portrait of the king by the moneyer Aethelhun, and a nonportrait type by the moneyers Burgherd and Redmund. Redmund also struck coins for King Ecgberht when he occupied Mercia. The portrait coins are typically assigned to Wiglaf's first reign while the nonportrait type is given to the second reign, but this is a guess at best. There are 8 coins (of all types) documented in the Early Medieval Corpus, but one is a forgery. Another is a fragment. Only one is the portrait variety. There are two other portrait coins in the British Museum and two non-portrait coins that have yet to be added to the corpus, giving a total known extant specimens of 11.
This particular coin is chipped, but otherwise readable and is of different dies than any other known specimen, and is the only non-portrait coin without reverse lunettes, and also does not have any pellets.
Ex- Downies Auction 320 (lot 2611), Glendining 11 Mar 1992 (lot 359), Bonser 1123, EMC 2001.0960, found Gravesend 1992St. George's Collection
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S.935 BerhtwulfPenny of Berhtwulf, king of Mercia, 839/840-852
Moneyer: Deneheah
S. 935
Naismith L35.6a (this coin)
O: BERHTVVLF REX
R: +DENEHEAH
Berhtwulf, possibly a relative of a prior king of Mercia, Beornwulf, became king after the previous king's grandson, Wigstan, declined the throne and took monastic orders instead. Little is known of Berhtwulf, or of his reign, though it is known that he faced significant turmoil from Viking attacks during the 840s and early 850s.
Ex- Wolfshead Gallery, Heritage 3101 (32157), NCirc Aug 2001 (HD0799), NCirc Mar 1992 (859), NCirc Oct 1990 (5924), Glendining 4 Jul 1939 (lot 336), GC Drabble, Spink, Sotheby 29 Oct 1917 (lot 146), A Mann, Sotheby 17-21 Nov 1913 (lot 284), PWP Carlyon-Britton, Christies 18 Jun 1909 (lot 44), HBH BeaufoySt. George's Collection
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S.938 Burgred (Guthere)Penny of Burgred, king of Mercia, 852-874
Moneyer: Guthere
S. 938
O: BVRGRED REX
R: MON/GVDHERE/ETA
Ex- Studio CoinsSt. George's Collection
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S.944 Ceolwulf II (Leofwald)Penny of Ceolwulf II, king of Mercia 874-879
Moneyer: Leofwald
Mint: London(?)
S. 944
O: +CEOLV LF REX.
R: LIO FVA LDM ONE
Ceolwulf II, possibly a relation to the earlier Mercian king of the same name, is treated poorly by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, being described as a foolish thegn and puppet of the Vikings, but very well may have been a reasonably successful king forgotten to history. He produced coins of the cross-and-lozenge type as well as the "two emperors" type, both coins being produced and circulating simultaneously with the same issues of Alfred the Great, suggesting that Ceolwulf was considered an equal of Alfred rather than an inferior.
Ex- S. HallSt. George's Collection
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S.945 BeonnaSceat of Beonna, king of East Anglia, ca. 749-760
Moneyer: Efe
Mint: Unknown (?Thetford)
S. 945
N. 430
O: +BEOXXF REX
R: + E F E
Ex- Wolfshead Gallery, DNW 24 Apr 2018 (lot 208), Spink 36 (lot 813), found Royston 1983St. George's Collection
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S.947 Eadwald (Lul)Penny of Eadwald, king of East Anglia, ca. 798
Moneyer: Lul
Mint: Unknown
S. 947
N. 432
Naismith E3
O: REX/+EADVA/LD
R: +L V L
Nothing is known about Eadwald, who was king in East Anglia for a short time after the death of Offa of Mercia. Mercia had dominated East Anglia, but a dysnastic struggle after Offa's death seems to have allowed an independent East Anglia to re-emerge. It would not last, and within a few years it was again a Mercian protectorate.
We don't know who Eadwald was or when exactly he lived. He did produce coins, and these very rare pieces give insight into an otherwise forgotten period.
Ex- Lockdales 162 (lot 1496), CNG 97 (lot 983), J Cross, Spink 211 (lot 70), EMC 2011.0178St. George's Collection
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S.951 Æthelstan (Æthelhelm)Penny of Æthelstan I, king of East Anglia, ca. 827-845
Moneyer: Æthelhelm
Mint: Unknown (probably Ipswich)
S. 951
Naismith E42.5
O: AEDELS+AN REX
R: +AEÐELHM MO
Much like other early East Anglian kings, Æthelstan is essentially unknown from the historical record, but left a numismatic record. His coins are scarce, but prolific enough that he must have been king for a reasonable length of time. During his reign the Mercian dominance over East Anglia was weak enough that the East Anglian rulers could coin in their own name. This would last until the East Anglian takeover by the Vikings in 869.
Ex- CNG, Spink 19026 (lot 485), A.Williams, M.VosperSt. George's Collection
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S.954 EadmundPenny of Eadmund, king of East Anglia, 855-870.
Moneyer: Beaghelm
S. 954
O: +EADMVND REX
R: +BEΓHELM MO
Eadmund (or Edmund), later to be sainted and forever known as St. Edmund (of the Bury St. Edmund's fame) was the last independent king of East Anglia. He managed to keep order in his kingdom when the Viking "Great Heathen Army" landed an invasion force in 865, and made some sort of peace with them, providing a brief respite. The Vikings went north and attacked Northumbria, took York, set up a puppet government there, and then came south again. This time, the East Anglians resisted, but were crushed by the Viking army. Eadmund died, either in battle, or shortly after.
Ex- Triskeles Auction 309 (lot 438)St. George's Collection
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