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19. Continental "Porcupine" sceat.AR sceat, ca. 720-40. Mint: likely Dorestad or Domburg.
Obverse: Porcupine-like figure, three parallel lines in curve.
Reverse: Standard with VOT /.\ design. Small cross on each side of standard.
1.09 gm., 12 mm.
North #48; Seaby #786; Metcalf Secondary phase, Series E .
Although the porcupine sceattas are found extensively in England, most of them were likely minted in what is today The Netherlands. The coins identified by Metcalf as being of the secondary (“Kloster Barthe”) phase were likely minted in Dorestad or Domburg rather than Friesland, ca. 720-40.
Reference:
Metcalf, Michael; and Op den Velde, Wybrand. "The Monetary Economy of the Netherlands, c. 690 – c. 760 and the Trade with England: A Study of the “Porcupine” Sceattas of Series E." Volume I. 2010. 284 pp.
The above work contains “. . . a dauntingly large amount of detailed information about the porcupine sceattas . . .” (p. 262). I hope the information I’ve gathered about this coin is correct.Callimachus
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20. AngloSaxon sceat.AR sceat, ca 690-725.
Obverse: Blundered legend / Diademed bust within a serpent circle.
Reverse: Blundered legend / Bird on cross, annulet at end of each horizontal arm, all within a serpent-circle.
1.15 gm., 12 mm.
North #126a; Seaby #777 (old #783).Callimachus
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21. Eanred.AE sceat or styca, ca 810-841.
Obverse: +ERANREDEX (retrograde).
Reverse: +FORDRED / cross.
Moneyer: Fordred.
1.23 gm., 12 mm.
North #186; Seaby #864 (old #860).Callimachus
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22. Offa.Penny, ca 787-792, Canterbury mint.
Obverse: +OFFA REX+ / bust of Offa.
Reverse: +LULLA
Moneyer: Lulla.
1.05 gm., 16 mm.
North #313; Seaby #906 (old #905).Callimachus
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23. Burgred.Penny, ca 866-874; possibly minted in London.
Obverse: BVRGRED REX M / Diademed bust of Burgred.
Reverse: MON / +HVSSA / ETA / Three pellets after ETA.
Moneyer: Hussa.
1.38 gm., 19 mm.
North #423; Seaby #938.Callimachus
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24. Alfred.Penny, first coinage 871-875, mint ?.
Obverse: +AELBRED REX / bust of Alfred.
Reverse: MON / EALHERE / ETA
Moneyer: Ealhere.
1.21 gm., 19 mm.
North #627; Seaby #1057.
The similarities of the lunnettes coinage of Burgred and the first coinage of Alfred has long been noted. There is evidence of an agreement between Mercia and Wessex to produce a unified coinage in the two states. This agreement was continued by Burgred and Alfred. At the beginning of Alfred's reign in 871, there were just two mints operating in Mercia and Wessex: London and Canterbury. Philip Grierson, in his book Medieval European Coinage: Volume 1, The Early Middle Ages, has Ealhere a moneyer in Canterbury.
A more detailed analysis of Alfred's coinage comes to a different conclusion. The Lunettes Coinage of Alfred the Great by A. W. Lyons & W. A. Mackay (2008, BNJ 78, 4) places this obverse die in Group 2 Mercian Style Lunettes, variant IV: "Horizonal bust." Characteristics: Bust lacks a bonnet, the hair is comprised of several horizontal lines usually ending in pellets and sloping between 45 to 60 degrees. Double-banded diadem surmounted by a crescent. Distinctively cut "wedge" lips. The eye is a small circle with a dot in the center.
The reverse die of this coin is Lunettes type C (illustrated under Burgred in North, p. 67.) However, Table 2B does not show the moneyer Ealhere using reverse type Lunette C. So coins with this die combination were evidentally not known to Lyons & Mackay.
Table 2D, listing all the moneyers of Alfred's Lunette coinage, says Ealhere used obverse dies of Group 1 variant I, and Group 2 variant IV (the obverse die on this coin). Lyons & Mackay suggest that Ealhere was located in central or west Wessex as he used London and Canterbury dies. Callimachus
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25. Danelaw: Vikings of East Anglia: St Edmund Memorial Coinage.Penny, ca 890-905.
Obverse: +SC EADMVN RI / Large A with small crosses on each side.
Reverse: +DAEMOND MOTI / Large cross.
Moneyer: Daemond.
1.29 gm., 18 mm.
North #483; Seaby #960.
There are over 60 moneyers with Germanic or Norse names found on the St Edmund coins in the Cuerdale Hoard (c. 905). This number suggests there were quite a few mints producing this coinage. Several of the moneyers are also found on coinage of Edward the Elder and Athelstan from other parts of the country. This suggests that this issue, although in the name of the martyred East Anglian king, extended beyond East Anglia, and perhaps continued until East Anglia was regained by the English in 917-18. For more information, see A New History of the Royal Mint by Christopher E. Challis (Cambridge University Press, 1992).Callimachus
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26. Danelaw: Vikings of York.Penny, ca 897-903, York mint.
Obverse: CRTENXV (CNVT REX) / Patriarchal cross.
Reverse: +CVNNETTI / small cross.
1.28 gm., 20 mm.
North #501; Seaby #993.
The inscriptions on this coin are somewhat of a mystery. Over the last 150 years there have been many theories as to their meaning. At various times Cvnetesford (Knutsford, Cheshire), Cvnetio, (the Latin name of Marlborough,Wiltshire), and Counde, Shropshire (Cuneet in the Domesaday Book) have been proposed as the city where the CVNNETTI coinage was minted. Still others saw a French origin for the CVNNETTI coinage: similar coins are inscribed with two known locations in France -- QVENTOVICI (no longer exists) and EBRAICE (Evreux, Normandy).
Today it is fairly certain the CVNNETTI coinage was minted in York. The inscriptions on this coin are thought to be Latinized versions of Knutr and Hunedeus, two Viking war leaders who operated in northern England in the late ninth century.
The name Cnut is arranged on the arms of the cross in the manner Christians cross themselves during prayer. This shows that "King Cnut," whoever he was, thought of himself as a Christian. He is not to be confused with the Cnut who was King of England from 1016-1035.Callimachus
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27. Edward the Elder.Penny, 899-924.
Obverse: +EADVVEARD REX / small cross.
Reverse: DEORV / + + + / VALD MO
Moneyer: Deorwald.
1.57 gm., 21 mm.
North #649; Seaby #1087.Callimachus
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28. Aethelstan.Penny, 927-939, York mint.
Obverse: +EÐELSTAN REX TO BRIT / small cross; C privy mark at left of cross.
Reverse: +REGNALD MO EFORǷIC / small cross.
Moneyer: Regnald.
1.48 gm., 22.5 mm.
North #672; Seaby #1093.
Aethelstan was the first British king to be styled "King of All Britain" on his coins (Rex Totius Britanniae). Regnald was also a moneyer for the Vikings when they were in control of York.
Provenance: the Schembrai Collection.Callimachus
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29. Eadmund.Penny, 939-946.
Obverse: +EADMVND REX / Small cross.
Reverse: HVNSI / + + + / GE MO
Moneyer: Hunsige.
1.22 gm., 22 mm.
North #689; Seaby #1105.
Perhaps of interest on this coin is the up-side-down A instead of a V in the king's name.Callimachus
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30. Eadred.Penny, 946-955.
Obverse: +E.AD.RED.REX A / Small cross.
Reverse: ÐEODM / +++ / AER M
Moneyer: Theodmaer.
1.44 gm., 22 mm.
North #706; Seaby #1113.
Provenance: Ex Richard Cyril Locket (1873-1950), Glendinings Part I, June 1955, lot 592 (part).Callimachus
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31. Eadwig.Penny, 955-959, possibly minted in York.
Obverse: +E-A-DǷIG REX / Small cross.
Reverse: HERIG / +++ / 'ER MO
Moneyer: Heriger.
1.40 gm., 21 mm.
North #724; Seaby #1122.
Provenance: Tetney Hoard, 1945.
E.J. Winstanley Collection. Callimachus
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32. Eadgar.Penny (group HT 1 NE V (northeast Midlands)), 959-975.
Obverse: +EADGAR REX / small cross.
Reverse: IVE M / +++ / ONET
Moneyer: Ive.
1.34 gm., 21 mm.
North #741; Seaby #1129.Callimachus
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33. Edward the Martyr.Penny, 975-978, Stamford mint.
Obverse: +EADǷEARD REX ANGLO / Diademed bust of Edward.
Reverse: +ǷACER M-O STAMFO. / small cross.
Moneyer: Wacer.
1.36 gm., 20 mm.
North #763; Seaby #1142.Callimachus
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34a. Aethelred II.Penny, 979-985, First Hand type, York mint.
Obverse: +ÆÐELRED REX ANGLOX / Diademed bust of Aethelred, right.
Reverse: +ZTYR M-O EOFER / Hand of Christ between A and ω .
Moneyer: Ztyr.
1.42 gm., 21 mm.
North #766; Seaby #1144.
The moneyer Ztyr is not listed as being a moneyer for Aethelred's First Hand type from York. However, there is a moneyer named Styr at York who coined for Edward the Martyr, 975-978. Ztyr is probably the same man.Callimachus
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34b. Aethelred II.Penny, 991-997, Lincoln mint.
Obverse: ÆÐELRED REX ANGLOX / Bust of Aethelred, scepter in front of face.
Reverse: +COLGRIM M-O LIN / Cross with the letters CRVX in angles.
Moneyer: Colgrim.
1.15 gm., 20 gm.
North #770; Seaby #1148Callimachus
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35a. Cnut.Penny, 1017-1023; Lincoln mint.
Obverse: +CNVT REX ANGLORV. / Crowned bust of Cnut, in quatrefoil.
Reverse: +ÆÐELMER MO LINC / long cross, voided, on quatrefoil.
Moneyer: Aethelmer.
1.03 gm., 18.5 mm.
North #781; Seaby #1157.
Provenance: Found in Tetford, Lincolnshire, September 1, 2005.
(Recorded: EMC. 2006.0016; PAS. DENO-00C081.) Callimachus
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35b. Cnut.Penny, 1023-1029; London mint.
Obverse: +CNVT REX AN / Bust of Cnut, wearing pointed helmet, sceptre in front.
Reverse: +EADǷOLD ON LVND / short cross, voided.
Moneyer: Eadwold.
1.08 gm., 18 mm.
North #787; Seaby #1158.Callimachus
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35c. Cnut.Penny, 1029-1035; Norwich mint.
Obverse: +CNVT . REX / Diademed bust of Cnut.
Reverse: +SIRIC ON NORÐǷ / Short cross voided; circle and pellet at center.
Moneyer: Siric.
1.11 gm, 18 mm.
North #790; Seaby #1159.
Provenance: ex. Norweb Collection (part 1, 80).Callimachus
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36. Harold I.Penny, ca 1038-1040; Norwich mint.
Obverse: +HAROLD REC / Diademed bust of Harold, in armor, with shield and sceptre in front.
Reverse: +MANNA ON NORÐ / Long cross, voided; with fleur-de-lis in angles.
1.16 gm., 19 mm.
North #803; Seaby #1165.Callimachus
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37. Harthacnut.Penny, 1035-1042; Lund, Denmark (now Sweden) mint.
Obverse: +HARÐECNVT / Crowned and cuirassed bust of Harthacnut.
Reverse: +TOCI ON LVDI / Cross, with a crescent in the second and fourth quarters.
Moneyer: Toci.
1.02 gm., 17 mm.
Seaby #1170.
This coin has a provenance going back to 1897. It was part of the Hyman Montagu (1844-95) Collection. Sold by Sotheby's, 16 November, 1897; Part V, lot 49. Illustrated on plate 1. The sale catalogue -- which is online -- has the buyer (Lincoln) and the selling price (8 shillings) written in. The buyer was W.S. Lincoln & Son, a coin dealer in London during the latter part of the 19th century.
Link to sale catalogue: https://archive.org/details/montagucollectio00soth_6/page/n9/mode/2upCallimachus
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38. Edward the Confessor.Penny, 1059-1062; Hastings mint.
Obverse: +EADǷAIRD RE / Crowned bust of Edward, bearded, with sceptre in front.
Reverse: +DVNING ON HEST / Short cross, voided, with hammer ends.
Moneyer: Duning.
1.28 gm., 19 mm.
North #828; Seaby #1182.Callimachus
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40. Harold II.Penny, 1066; London mint.
Obverse: +HAROLD REX ANG / Crowned bust of Harold, sceptre in front.
Reverse: +SǷETMAN ON LVN / Across field and between two lines: PAX
Moneyer: Swetman.
1.20 gm., 19 mm.
North #836; Seaby #1186.Callimachus
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Archbishop of Canterbury, CeolnothStruck c.865-868AD Kent, Canterbury mint. AR Penny 1.20g Ceolnoth Group III. Floriated Cross type. Obv tonsured bust facing, breaking inner circle 'ARCHIEP- CEOLNOD'; Rev 'BIARNRED MONETA' (Moneyer Beornraed) around, in inner circle a floriated cross. S.895? (Group III) N.247.
There are 58 recorded coins of Ceolnoth at the SCBI/EMC but only 3 coins of this moneyer for him. He also struck 6 more recorded coins for Alfred, Edward the Elder and some Danish imitative Alfred coins from East Anglia. This actual type is not listed in the corpus. However, a fragment at the British Museum, see BNJ28 CE Blunt 'A new coin of Ceolnoth' and JJ North plate III/9, is likely the same. Infact, I believe these coins are of the same dies and moneyer. Blunt & North describe 'LD' in the fragmented moneyer legend though it is likely 'ED' with the top half of the 'E' missing at the break. The Floriated Cross design is also found on coins of Aethelberht for the moneyers Dudda and Oshere but only 4 on database (N.621). In superb condition, a single find from the Driffield area in Yorkshire. This coin is potentially the only complete specimum and should be considered a great rarity. It is now recorded in the 2011 'The Coinage of Southern England' by Rory Naismith, Volume 1 Plate 65 C218.2b.
Gareth Williams at the British Museum kindly commented:
'I agree with your reading of the coin, and think that it is probably from the same dies as our fragment 1947, 14-4, 6, as you suggest, although it's difficult to be absolutely certain - the angle of the D on the reverse in particular looks slightly different, but that may just be the lighting on the photograph'
Rory Naismith from the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge is studying the period for his PhD dissertation. He kindly commented as below:
'The Ceolnoth in particular is quite spectacular: not only is it, as you say, the only known whole floreate cross penny of Ceolnoth, but it is also a stunning coin of considerable historical importance. There is some reason to believe that it was found as part of a small hoard comprising at least three floreate cross pennies, the other two both being of Aethelberht by the moneyer Dudda. One is unfortunately only a small fragment, but the other is beautifully preserved. As the only known hoard of floreate cross coins, this is understandably a find of some significance, although it is odd to find it deposited so far north. A trawl through the BM and as many other catalogues and find records as I could find turned up only a total of nineteen floreate cross pennies, including yours, struck by seven moneyers. It was probably a lot larger than this meagre record seems to suggest: were it not for the large Dorking hoard of 1817 the preceding Inscribed Cross phase would be almost as little-known, and many moneyers who produced this type reappeared in the Lunettes coinage, so they may well have continued over the intervening period as well'.
The initial coinage of Group III has as the reverse motif a cross crosslet with pellets in the angles [coin 1, illustrated above]. Those of Ceolnoth are of good style and feature a neater tonsured bust of the archbishop possibly wearing his pallium. Those of Aethelwulf for the same period, Phase II at Canterbury, tend to have a rather crude right facing bust with thick lettering in the legend - although a few are of better style. Not all of Aethelwulf's coins of this type have pellets in the angles of the cross crosslet. This type was struck until c.852, when it was replaced by a coinage that was to become standard at Canterbury throughout the remainder of Aethelwulf's reign and the majority of the reign of his son Aethelberht. The Inscribed Cross coinage, struck only by Ceolnoth and the two aforementioned kings, have an identical reverse with a large voided cross that contains the moneyers name within and in the angles. Comparitively large numbers of these coins survive and they have been the subject of much study with regard to dating, reduced silver content and so on. Toward the end of his reign, c.854, Aethelberht minted a new coinage mirrored by Ceolnoth, the extremely rare Floriate Cross issue. These coins as would be expected have a large floriated cross on the reverse and had a very limited striking - perhaps as little as a year. Less than ten examples survive today for the king and archbishop. Illustrated below is the only known complete example of the Floriate Cross type of archbishop Ceolnoth.
AlexB
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King Eanred, NorthumbriaThis coin is likely a counterfeit/reproduction of a genuine Eanred Base-Styca of c. 810AD. It is currently undergoing XRF analysis to determine this. The weight is suspicious at 1.85g though the coin itself, if fake, is dangerously good.
Given that Tony Abramson, an acknowledged specialist has given his initial opinion that it might be genuine from the photo, I sent it to him for a look in the hand.
Discussion with Tony here:
'Dear Alex,
The weight is a real concern but it's difficult to tell just from the photograph - there may be some casting bubbles on the surface. I attach the Museum Reproduction Limited's no. 382 which differs from your coin. Also your's doesn't appear to be dished, so isn't a new Ashmore. I would recommend that you have the coin analysed by XRF or similar to detemine the amount of silver and confirm the presence of trace elements - tin and zinc. This could be done as Sheffield Assay office or at most universities. The leading authority is Peter Northover at Oxford. I can put you in touch.
Regards,
Tony Abramson'
So off it went to Oxford. After XRF analysis at Oxford by Peter Northover, he stated the following, almost as a footnote having discussed at length two doubtful 'Vanimundas Thrymsa':
'The Eanred coin has a composition that matches other early 9th century silver coins in England and is probably OK, although it is a very crisp example.
Regards,
Peter
--
Dr Peter Northover,
BegbrokeNano - OMCS
Tel: +44 1865 283721; Fax +44 1865 848790
Mob: +44 7785 501745
e-mail; peter.northover@materials.ox.ac.uk'
Further notes added from research email to Tony Abramson:
Just done some basic research on my coin via the EMC. There are 600+ coins of Eanred on there so this really was a quick scan through. Results:
These coins are quite heavy, certainly over the 1.35g you'd 'expect'. In one case, a coin is 2.25g!:
1001.0270
1001.0295
1024.0250
1036.0035
1042.2430
These coins are the same style as mine but no weight recorded:
2001.0274
2001.0270
2001.0600
2001.0601
These are the same as Pirie 2000, P.66 no.146 and 147 in 2 of the cases. Find spots include Sherburn, Wharrem-Le-Street, Staxton, all in Yorkshire on A64, the old Roman road from York to Scarborough. The legend for EANRED is however retrograde on all these coins, but not on mine.
Stewart Lyon and Tony correspondance:
On 08/01/2012 23:56:
Dear Tony,
I just don't believe that a coin weighing 1.8g and having a diameter of close to 15 mm can be a genuine styca of Eanred's reign. It cannot have been difficult to forge styca dies in the 18th or 19th century (though who would want to do it today?) since the designs are simple and the lettering often straightforward, as on Hwaetred's coins. If Peter Northover finds that the trace elements in the silver are consistent with 9th century silver we may have to wonder how this came about, but it would take a lot of persuasion to make me change my opinion that it is false.
Kind regards,
Stewart
Biarnred May 2017 - Updating thoughts - no new news here but to summarise, I am happy to sit this one out. On the one hand I may have identified a fake/reproduction on the market, and this serves as a warning to others. On the otherhand, with its composition and accurate style, just maybe this coin is genuine and represents a coinage now long forgotten, at a higher weight. I suspect that this coin is of relatively modern construction - perhaps some old Stycas (they are common) have been melted down and new dies used to produce this. Further the patination looks false to me, which would back up the age claim. Why? Well you can pick up Stycas virtually for free, and if you have the ability it would be an easy way to make some cash. Saying that, why aren't there more of these? Maybe a short-term venture.AlexB
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