Anglo Saxon - Kings of Northumbria - AE Styca (12mm) AETHELRED II [841-50] - Moneyer - EANRED obv. +EDllRED REX, pellet in a circle; rev. +EANRED, cross in center Spink 865 Also known as Æthelred the Unready (from the Old English unræd meaning "poorly advised"). I get a variety of dates as ruler for Aethelred II, and the Spink date of 841-850 is not among them. I will do some additional research, but I would appreciate any assistance concerning the dates.
That's because this isn't Æthelred II the Unready (978-1016) but Æthelred II of Northumbria, who was king in the mid-800s when Northumbria was a different 'country' to Mercia and Wessex. This is 'the Unready': Æthelred II the Unready Penny, 978-1016 Silver, 1.46g. Helmet type. Moneyer Eadwold, +ÆÐELRED REX ΛNGL (Æthelred King of England). +EADPOLD M.Ω.D LUND (Eadwold moneyer of London) (S 1152).
Awesomeness! Yours and mine were by different moneyers! Here's mine and the Spink listing under Kings of Northumbria: Aethelred II Monne - Styca Anglo-Saxon Coins - Northumbria - 841-844, 844-849 AD. Obv: small cross with +EDLIRED REX legend. Rev: pellet rosette with +MONNE legend for the moneyer Monne. S. 862. 1.17 grams. Very fine. Ex: Timeline Auction
Alot of people get mixed up between the Aethelred's, yours is the one 100 and odd years before Aethelred the Unready.
The Northumbrian coinage was always interesting to me because Northumbria encompassed the lower part of Scotland below the Firth of Forth for awhile. I have a couple Northumbrian coins, but they are the Archbishop Wigmund AE Styca and the Eanred Styca. Unfortunately not imaged recently.
Indeed. The older Aethelred being closer to the "classical" Anglo Saxon period of the werods and Beowulf does add a lot of interest to the coin in my opinion (not that Aethelred II of Wessex isn't)
Such a mysterious part of British history, really. And rather overlooked unfortunately, kind of gets passed over for the Roman era up until they traipsed out in the 5th century until the Normans barged in during the 11th century.
