I fell in love with this sceatta the moment I saw it. However, I have little to no knowledge on sceattas, but would really like to know the type and subtype. I've looked in the CNG archive for comparable types. First, the coin: Obv: porcupine type with four legs. Rev: beaded square with cross above and to the left. Central annulet with dot inside. Four beaded lines around in 'swatsika pattern'. Weight: 0.79g, diameter 13mm. Small deposit between legs on the obverse. Comparable example: https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=316789 Comparable reverse: https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=373168 The next one was in the (impressive) collection of my friend and forum member @AnYangMan. It's a continental imitation of a runic type sceat (photo below also by him). Obv: rather abstract head Rev: central cross with four pellets around, below annulet, above cross patté, runic letters around. And the last one is on his way to his rightfull owner (that is, me). Photo not by myself. Obv: purcipine type, "V" near head, small cross at the left. Rev: (should be rotated 90 degrees). Square, with central annulet. Two "T" at each side, / \ below, with two pellets in between. Weight, diameter and better photo to follow. Comparable example: https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=359990 I would appreciate any hints. Also, if you know about a (online) source, such as CNG research, I would very much like to hear about it!
Hey, now where have I seen that sceatta before . Neat collection you’ve acquired in a rather short period of time. Who knows, you might even decide to focus exclusively on these fascinating little buggers! But be prepared for a lot of ‘Maybe’, ‘possibly’ and ‘unknown’. Anyhow, variety-wise, yours should be identified as: Series E (porcupine), secondary continental phase (Kloster-Barthe Phase, c. 720 - c. 740), sub-variety k (mainly a ‘leftover’ group of ‘imitations’, double die-match to a specimen the Kloster Barthe hoard (2534)). These are hypothesised to have been struck in local mints, not attributable to a precise geographic location. One double die-match has been retrieved from an unknown location in the Netherlands, the other indeed from the Kloster Barthe hoard in Germany. So, its origin probably lies somewhere in these regions! Series D (Continental Runetype), Type 2c, sub-variety 3c (with head right (it often faces left in sub-variety 3c), reverse die-match to the major 3c die-chain). Based on find-material, these are quite possibly English imitations of the continental sceattas, which in turn are imitations of early English Sceattas. Quite confusing….. Date should be around 695-715. Series E (porcupine), secondary continental phase (Kloster-Barthe Phase, c. 720 - c. 740), sub-variety d (pronounced ‘Beak’, ToT / \ intact on reverse after British prototype). Quite possibly a die match to the sub-variety d die-chain! Based on distribution maps, this sub-variety d possibly originates from the ‘big river area’ here in the Netherlands. Dorestad has often been named, but there is little direct evidence for this claim. The two works of Op Den Velde & Metcalf on both series D and E are available online through the site of the KNGMP! And just because I like sharing coins, two of my Sceattas: A rather nice ‘porcupine’, followed by one of the nicest series D, type 8 (also continental, quite possibly a mint in the area around Domburg) I have ever seen!
Thanks @AnYangMan for your comprehensive and complete identification! Are there any theories or interpretations on what actually is depicted on the coin? E.g. the reverse of these sceatta's resemble (to me, with some fantasy) a floor plan, while the obv. may resemble a porcupine or a bird. Edit: I found this excellent overview by @Nap https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-sceattas-of-early-anglo-saxon-england.316733/
Nothing for me to add, a good description @AnYangMan and nice coins. There are many different minor varieties of the Continental sceats of series D and E, which were produced in massive numbers, and probably some were made in England too. In general, sceattas are just a cool field and among my favorite medieval “dark age” coins. I’ve been collecting these for some 5 years and I think I have more than 50 different types now.
I got another one I was attracted to it because, lets face it, the bird looks a bit like an alien. The bird-sceatta's are believed to be an earlier type of the porcupine sceatta's. It's a bummer they are so expensive though (this one was €179...) Ruler: Annonymous Denomination: AR Sceatta, minted: Possibly Dorestad (The Netherlands); 695/700-710/5 AD Obs: “Plumed bird” right; pellet-in-annulet below beak; Rev: Standard; pellet-in-annulet at center and in corners, separated by either double- or triple-pellet groups; lines in margin Catalogue: Continental series E, Primary ('Ashton Rowant') phase, plumed bird var. L (Type 6). Abramson 87.10; SCBI 63 (BM), 312–7; North 49; SCBC 791 Provenance: Found in province of Zeeland, the Netherlands (2018), ex private collection, acq. 11-2019. It's a rather rare type. In total 15 of this type on ACsearch and sixbid, making this probably one of my rarer coins. And retook a picture of the last one of the first post: