England - Wessex and late Anglo-Saxon
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S.1044 AethelwulfPenny (heavily clipped) of Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, 839-858
Moneyer: Unknown
Mint: Canterbury
S. 1044
O: [+EDELVVLF REX]
R: [moneyer]. SAX ONIO RVM in center.
This is an Aethelwulf of Wessex penny, except the coin has been clipped so that just the centre remains. About the same size as a sceat. Saxoniorum type, most likely of Canterbury.
The edge is not frayed and it seems somewhat likely that the clipping may have been deliberate. I have seen other coins that were similarly reduced.
Presumably, memory of sceattas would be pretty limited, since they had not circulated in Wessex for about 100 years. However, in the 840s when this coin was produced, reduced size stycas still circulated in Northumbria. Perhaps this coin was clipped down to be used in northern trade? It is significantly lighter than contemporary coins of Eanred and Aethelred II of Northumbria, though it is far less debased so perhaps it could have traded at a similar value.
There is a single known Southumbrian style penny in the name of Eanred of Northumbria, just one exists! (it's at the British Museum). That coin has always been an enigma, as the stycas were the only circulating currency in Northumbria until the late 9th century. However, the Eanred penny might have been produced to facilitate trade with the southern neighbor.
Could this clipped penny have been meant for something similar, just reversed? Or was it just accidental damage that left a fairly round and neat piece. Probably will never know..
Ex- eBaySt. George's Collection
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S.1044 Aethelwulf (Osmund)Penny of Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, 839-858
Moneyer: Osmund
Mint: Canterbury
S. 1044
Naismith C101c (this coin)
O: +EDELVVLF REX
R: +OSMVND MONETA. SAX ONIO RVM in center.
This particular type was believed to be struck in Canterbury, as other coins by this moneyer have the insignia, "Dorib" which is either Dorovernum (Canterbury) or Dorobrevis (Rochester). The Saxoniorum monogram was also used on coins from the late period of Aethelwulf's father Ecgberht's reign, and this issue is thus presumed to be from early in Æthelwulf's reign.
This coin is slightly chipped, as are many of this type, coins from later in Æthelwulf's reign seem to be better preserved.
Ex- DNW 2-3 Dec 2013 (lot 2031), Glendining auction 10-11 Dec 1980 (lot 252)St. George's Collection
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S.1047 Aethelwulf (Liaba)Penny of Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, 839-858
Moneyer: Liaba
Mint: Canterbury
S. 1047
Naismith C114.1e (this coin)
O: +EÐELVVLF REX
R: +LIABA MONETA
Ex- CNG Auction 115 (lot 1025), T.Hansen, Triton IX (lot 2235), T.DaileySt. George's Collection
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S.1053 Æthelberht (Æthelweald)Penny of Æthelberht, king of Wessex, 860-865
Moneyer: Æthelweald
Mint: Probably Canterbury
S. 1053
Naismith C163d (this coin)
O: +ÆÐELBEARHT REX
R: +EÐELVE ALD MO N E T A
Ex- Studio Coins, Sothebys, L.R. StackSt. George's Collection
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S.1055 Æthelred I (Ælfhere)Penny of Æthelred I, king of Wessex, 865-871
Moneyer: Ælfhere
Mint: Probably Canterbury
S. 1055
O: +AEÐELRED REX
R: MON ELBERE ETA
Penny of Æthelred, the 4th son of King Æthelwulf. There was much fighting between Wessex and Viking armies during his fairly short reign. Æthelred was nominally in charge of the army of Wessex for the battle of Ashdown, one of the few English victories against the Viking army at this time. Historically, the victory is remembered for the leadership of Ælfred (later to be known as 'the Great') who was apparently the military commander on the field.
During the time of Æthelred, the currency of Wessex and Mercia were unified, and coins of the same "lunette" type are produced for Æthelred, his brother and successor Ælfred, and Burgred of Mercia.
Ex- Keith ChapmanSt. George's Collection
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S.1066 Alfred (Boga)Penny of Alfred "the Great", king of Wessex, 871-899
Moneyer: Boga
Mint: Unknown
Mercian dies
S. 1066
O: +EL FRED RE
R: BVGA MoN
Buga, or Boga, was a moneyer for Alfred and Eadward. This particular coin has an irregular "Viking" appearance, but is of good weight, and similar to other examples by this moneyer, so is probably more likely an official issue.
Ex- H J BerkSt. George's Collection
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S.1084 Eadward the Elder (Beahred)Penny of Eadward "the Elder", king of Wessex, 899-924
Moneyer: Beahred
Mint: London?
S. 1084
O: +EADVVEARD REX
R: BEAH RED Mo
Ex- J.Linzalone, Baldwin Auction 77 (lot 2532), Seaby, Glendining 13 Mar 1974 (lot 83)St. George's Collection
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S.1084 Eadward the Elder (Beahred)Penny of Eadward "the Elder", king of Wessex, 899-924
Moneyer: Beahred
Mint: London?
S. 1084
O: +EADVVEARD REX
R: BEAH RED Mo
Ex- J.Linzalone, Baldwin Auction 77 (lot 2532), Seaby, Glendining 13 Mar 1974 (lot 83)St. George's Collection
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S.1087 Eadward the Elder (Dudig?)Penny of Eadward "the Elder", king of Wessex, 899-924
Moneyer: Dudig?
Mint: Unknown
Mercia-South East dies
S. 1087
O: +EɅDVVEɅREX
R: DVD +++ oI Mo
This penny may be a contemporary imitation of Eadward's official issue, from the Danelaw, or it may be just the misengraving of a barely literate moneyer. A moneyer named Dudig is known to strike coins for Eadward as well as his father Alfred
Ex- Heritage Auctions, CNGSt. George's Collection
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S.1089 Æthelstan (Godfred)Penny of Æthelstan, king of Wessex, 924-939
Moneyer: Godfred
Mint: Unknown
North East mint
S. 1089
O: +ÆÐELZTAN REX
R: GODF +++ RED Mo
Æthelstan, with the sobriquet "the Glorious" consolidated power in the former heptarchy, and can probably be considered the first king of England.
Ex- Silbury Coins, J.RadfordSt. George's Collection
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S.1089 Æthelstan (Godfred)Penny of Æthelstan, king of Wessex, 924-939
Moneyer: Godfred
Mint: Unknown
North East mint
S. 1089
O: +ÆÐELZTAN REX
R: GODF +++ RED Mo
Æthelstan, with the sobriquet "the Glorious" consolidated power in the former heptarchy, and can probably be considered the first king of England.
Ex- Silbury Coins, J.RadfordSt. George's Collection
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S.1093 Æthelstan (Abba)Penny of Æthelstan, king of Wessex, 924-939
Moneyer: Abba
Mint: Chester
S. 1093
O: ÆÐELSTAN RE TO BR LE
R: +ABBA MOIN LEGECF
A historically important coin, this piece proclaims Aethelstan king of all Britain, a claim that could only be made after the conquest of Viking York. As such, this made Aethelstan the first king of England.
Ex- Heritage 3082 (lot 33949), CNG 103 (lot 1165)St. George's Collection
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S.1094 Æthelstan (Torhtelm)S.1094 Æthelstan (Torhtelm)
Penny of Æthelstan, king of Wessex, 924-939
Moneyer: Torhtelm
Mint: Canterbury (?)
S. 1094
N. 673
O: +ÆÐELSTAN REX
R: +TORHTELM MO
Likely an issue from Canterbury as other coins from this moneyer read "DOR CIVIT", which is probably Dorovernum (Canterbury), though Dorobrevum (Rochester) can't be excluded.
Ex- CNG eAuction 464 (lot 293), RA Jourdan, Triton XXII (lot 1373), TimeLines Auction 3 Sep 2014 (lot 1399)St. George's Collection
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S.1105 Eadmund I (Burhelm)Penny of Eadmund I, king of England 939-946
Moneyer: Burhelm
Mint: unknown
Type O/HT2
S. 1105 (var.)
O: +EADMVND REX, central annulet
R: BVRHE o+o LM Mo
An unusual penny of Eadmund of the "O/HT2" type, with a central annulet on the reverse, and a cross flanked by annulets on the reverse. Only a few moneyers produced these- Berhtred, Burhelm, Burnwig, Liafinc, Wichelm, and Wigard, and very few examples are known.
Another example of this coin by the same moneyer was sold by Spink in 2018 (ex-SNC 1991)
Ex- Silbury CoinsSt. George's Collection
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S.1115 Eadred (Wilbeorht)Penny of Eadred, king of England 946-955
Moneyer: Wilbeorht
Mint: unknown (possibly Norwich)
S. 1115
O: crowned bust, +EADRED RENE
R: AAILEBERT MONETA
A portrait penny of King Eadred. Eadred's reign was marked by conflict with the Vikings in Northumbria, and their adventurous leader Eric Bloodaxe. By the end of Eadred's reign however, Northumbria was brought into the English fold.
This particular coin is likely from Norwich, as the portrait is in the East Anglian style, and there is another coin from the same moneyer (EMC 1998.0096) with a mint signature "N" probably from Norwich.
Ex- eBay, S.Elden, EMC 2016.0297St. George's Collection
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S.1122 Eadwig (Eanwulf)Penny of Eadwig, king of England 955-959
Moneyer: Eanwulf
Mint: unknown (possibly Lincoln)
S. 1122
HT1, NE IV
O: +EADVVI REX
R: EAEN oLF M
Coins of Eadwig are somewhat scarce due to his short reign. For whatever reason, portrait coins are almost non-existant; a single unique example is known. There are a few mint signed coins of Eadwig but the majority are just presumed to be from certain regions. This one is called "NE IV" type, a subtype of the HT1 (horizontal trefoil) type, from a Northeast mint, which is probably Lincoln.
Ex- StacksBowersSt. George's Collection
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S.1129 Eadgar (Farthein)Penny of Eadgar, king of England 959-972
Moneyer: Farthein
Mint: unknown (Northeast)
S. 1129
N. 741
HT1, NE V
O: +EADGAR REX
R: CARD EIN No
Ex- Baldwins 105 (lot 147)St. George's Collection
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S.1142 Eadward the Martyr (Æthelstan)Penny of Eadward "the Martyr", king of England 975-978
Moneyer: Æthelstan
Mint: Canterbury
S. 1142
O: EADPEA REX ANGLOR
R: ÆÐESTAN M-O CÆNT
The unfortunate Eadward, with the sobriquet "the Martyr", obviously wasn't destined for long life. Just three years into his reign, the hapless Eadward was killed, probably by his step mother Ælfthryth, mother of his half-brother Æthelred (II).
This particular coin appears to have been from an altered die of Eadgar, with the last three letters of the presumably still serviceable die altered.
Ex- Davissons e-Auction 31 (lot 79), SpinkSt. George's Collection
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S.1148 Aethelred II (Leofnoth)Penny of Aethelred II, king of England 968-1016
Moneyer: Leofnoth
Mint: Lewes
S. 1148
O: EÐELRED REX ANGLOR
R: LEOFNOÐ M-O LÆPE
Ex-SpinkSt. George's Collection
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S.1148 Aethelred II (Leofnoth)Penny of Aethelred II, king of England 968-1016
Moneyer: Leofnoth
Mint: Lewes
S. 1148
O: EÐELRED REX ANGLOR
R: LEOFNOÐ M-O LÆPE
Ex-SpinkSt. George's Collection
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S.1158 Cnut (Hringwulf)Penny of Cnut, king of England 1016-1035, Denmark 1018-1035, and Norway 1028-1035
Moneyer: Hringwulf
Mint: Norwich
S. 1158
O: +INVT R EX ANGL
R: +RICNVL.F ON NORÐPI
Ex- Hosker Haynes 2 (lot 28)St. George's Collection
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S.1159 Cnut (Brunman)Penny of Cnut, king of England 1016-1035, Denmark 1018-1035, and Norway 1028-1035
Moneyer: Brunman
Mint: London
S. 1159
O: +CNVT REX A
R: +BRVNMAN ON LV
Ex- Harlan J. BerkSt. George's Collection
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S.1165 Harold I (Skuli)Penny of Harold I, king of England 1035-1040
Moneyer: Skuli
Mint: York
S. 1165
O: +HAR.O.LD RECX
R: +SCVLA O.M EOFER.
Harold, nicknamed "harefoot" presumably because he was a fast runner, became king in England after the death of his father Cnut, and in opposition to his half-brother Harthacnut, who had a competing claim. Harthacnut was busy in Denmark and could not press his claim for several years.
Not much is known about Harold, who did not live very long and died at age 24, before the war with his half-brother began, and his death probably spared England from yet another civil war.
Despite his short reign, his coins are fairly prolific, and frequently come high grade, as they have been found in some decent number in hoards.
Ex- S. EldenSt. George's Collection
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S.1165 Harold I (Skuli)Penny of Harold I, king of England 1035-1040
Moneyer: Skuli
Mint: York
S. 1165
O: +HAR.O.LD RECX
R: +SCVLA O.M EOFER.
Harold, nicknamed "harefoot" presumably because he was a fast runner, became king in England after the death of his father Cnut, and in opposition to his half-brother Harthacnut, who had a competing claim. Harthacnut was busy in Denmark and could not press his claim for several years.
Not much is known about Harold, who did not live very long and died at age 24, before the war with his half-brother began, and his death probably spared England from yet another civil war.
Despite his short reign, his coins are fairly prolific, and frequently come high grade, as they have been found in some decent number in hoards.
Ex- S. EldenSt. George's Collection
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S.1169 Harthacnut (Leofwine)Penny of Harthacnut, king of England 1040-1042 and Denmark 1035-1042
Moneyer: Leofwine
Mint: Thetford
Arm-and-scepter type
S. 1169
O: +CNVT RECX A
R: +LEFPINE ON ÐEOTVO
The arm-and-scepter type in the name of "Cnut" was produced during the reign of Harthacnut
Ex- Mark Rasmussen, Morton & Eden Auction 91 (lot 43), Archbishop John SharpSt. George's Collection
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S.1170 Harthacnut (Tooci)Penny of Harthacnut, king of England 1040-1042 and Denmark 1035-1042
Moneyer: Tooci
Mint: Lund
S. 1170
Hauberg 28 (var.)
O: NARÐECII
R: TOOCI ON LVNDI
Danish coin of Harthacnut, imitating the long cross type of Aethelred II. Harthacnut faces left with a nice head of bushy hair, looking somewhat more like a rooster's comb. In front of him is an extended hand, which seems to be clothed in a gauntlet. The lanky fingers look almost skeletal. The significance of this hand may be related to similar imagery of the 'benediction hand' on other coins of Aethelred II. While a religious symbol, the Vikings of this era were probably Christian only in name, and it is doubtful they understood the meaning. This image only appears on coins of Toci. Toci also struck coins for Cnut the Great, Magnus the Good, and Cnut IV.
Ex- Hafnia coins, Künker Auction 194 (lot 2132)St. George's Collection
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S.1171 Edward the Confessor (Opi)Penny of Edward the Confessor, king of England 1042-1066
Moneyer: Opi
Mint: Hertford
S. 1171
O: +EDPEARD .RECX:
R: EP. IION HE: ORT: (P A C X in center)
Ex- MH CoinsSt. George's Collection
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S.1173 Edward the Confessor (Eadwine)Penny of Edward the Confessor, king of England 1042-1066
Moneyer: Edwine
Mint: London
S. 1173
O: +EDPERD REX A
R: +EDPINE ON LVND
Ex- StacksBowersSt. George's Collection
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S.1176 Edward the Confessor (Leofric)Penny of Edward the Confessor, king of England 1042-1066
Moneyer: Leofric
Mint: Thetford
S. 1176
O: +EDP[EA]RD RE
R: +LEOFRIC ON [ÐE]ODE
Ex- York Coins, Elmore Jones, BaldwinsSt. George's Collection
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S.1182 Edward the Confessor (Leofwald)Penny of Edward the Confessor, king of England 1042-1066
Moneyer: Leofwald
Mint: Winchester
S. 1182
O: +EADPARD R ANG
R: +LIOFPOLD ON PINCEST
Ex- Noonans 278 (lot 118), Glendining 6 Oct 1987 (lot 574), GV Doubleday, DNW 31 (lot 195), P Broadley, SNC April 1998 (lot 1796)St. George's Collection
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S.1183 Edward the Confessor (Diorman)Penny of Edward the Confessor, king of England 1042-1066
Moneyer: Diorman
Mint: Steyning
S. 1183
O: +EADPARARD REX A
R: +DIORMAN ON STE
Ex- S.Mitchell, Elsen Auction 83 (lot 1297), Glendinning 12-13 May 1971 (lot 801), F. Elmore JonesSt. George's Collection
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S.1184 Edward the Confessor (Snaebjorn)Penny of Edward the Confessor, king of England 1042-1066
Moneyer: Snaebjorn
Mint: York
S. 1184
O: +EADPARD REX
R: +SNEBEARN ON EO
Ex- L Bennett, Corringham hoardSt. George's Collection
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