Exactly one year and three days ago, I bought my first sceatta. With the purchase of the two I posted recently, the total number is now 20. To celebrate my first year of sceatta-collecting, I present to you the 'harvest' of this year, in chronological order (of acquirement). First, an overview: Series B: 1 Series D: 5 Series E: 12 Series G: 1 Series R: 1 There are just a few here that collect sceatta's, though they're usually well received. Sceatta's are relatively expensive, however, with some patience, nice and rare specimens may be bought for relatively little. To hopefully inspire others to delve a bit deeper: on average, I paid €129.50 per sceatta, with a range of €50 to €200. Most sceatta's are fairly common, but two are rare (nr 8, series D BMC 10; this post, and nr 17, Series R R10. Rigold type R2; next post). Nr. 1: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series D, type 2c, sub-variety 3c), minted: Possibly England; 695-715 AD Obv: Abstract head Rev: Central cross with four pellets around, below annulet, above cross patté, runic letters around. Weight: 1.08g; Ø:13mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Ex van Eldijk; acq.: 09-2019 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. Nr 2: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series E, sub-variety K), minted: Frisia; 720-740 AD 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; Ø:1.3mm. Catalogue: Metcalf & Op ten Velde (2010) die chain 2534-2535 (plate 72, The Monetary Economy of the Netherlands, c. 690 - c. 760 and the Trade with England: A Study of the 'Porcupine' Sceattas of Series E). Provenance: Ex private collection; acq.: 10-2019 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 Nr 3 ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series E, sub-variety D), minted: Possibly Dorestad (The Netherlands); 720-740 AD Obv: Purcipine type, "V" near head, small cross at the left Rev: Square, with central annulet. Two "T" at each side, / \ below, with two pellets in between. Weight: 0.98g; Ø:11mm. Catalogue: No die match in Metcalf & Op ten Velde (2010) (The Monetary Economy of the Netherlands, c. 690 - c. 760 and the Trade with England: A Study of the 'Porcupine' Sceattas of Series E). Provenance: Ex private collection; acq.: 10-2019 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 Nr 4: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series E, Primary ('Ashton Rowant') phase, plumed bird var. L (Type 6)), minted: Possibly Dorestad (The Netherlands); 695/700-710/5 AD Obv: “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 Weight: 1g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: No die match in Metcalf & Op ten Velde (2010) (The Monetary Economy of the Netherlands, c. 690 - c. 760 and the Trade with England: A Study of the 'Porcupine' Sceattas of Series E). Provenance: Found in province of Zeeland (the Netherlands) 2018. Numis nr: 1150659; acq.: 11-2019 Nr 5 ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series E, Primary ('Ashton Rowant') phase, plumed bird var. J (Type 6)), minted: Probably Dorestad, Frisia (the Netherlands); 695/700-710/5 Obv: Plumed bird’ right; cross pommée to right and below Rev: Standard with central pellet-in-annulet, four bars, and two trefoils; crosses at sides, dots around Weight: 0.68g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: Metcalf & Op ten Velde (2010) die chain 8-10 (plate 1, The Monetary Economy of the Netherlands, c. 690 - c. 760 and the Trade with England: A Study of the 'Porcupine' Sceattas of Series E). Provenance: Ex. J. van Bergen; acq.: 11-2019 Nr 6: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series D, type 8), minted: Frisia or Domburg; 695-715 AD Obv: Central cross with garbled runic legend around Rev: Standard with central annulet, Weight: 0.63g; Ø:10mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Ex J. van Bergen; acq.: 11-2019 Nr 7: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series E ‘Ashton Rowant’ phase, stepped cross var. (type 53)), minted: Frisia; 690-715 AD Obv: Porcupine' head to the right, spikes ending in dot. Beak connected to spine, but not at distal end. Dot within beak. Dot within annulet under spine; several dots around. Standard below. Rev: Stepped cross with pellet-in-annulet at center and pellets around between arms of the cross Weight: 0.81g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: No die match in Metcalf & Op ten Velde (2010) (The Monetary Economy of the Netherlands, c. 690 - c. 760 and the Trade with England: A Study of the 'Porcupine' Sceattas of Series E). Provenance: Ex. J. van Bergen; acq.: 11-2019 Broken in half, glued. Relatively rare Nr 8: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series D, BMC type 10), minted: Likely the Netherlands; c.700-715 AD Obv: Crowned bust to the right with pellets as hair. Sharp, portruding nose. Runic inscription aepa in front Rev: Radiated 'porcupine' or 'moonface' bust, to the right. Latin inscription TICV in front. Weight: 1.16g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: Op den Velde die chain 312-325 (obverse); 318-319 (reverse). Abramson 9-10; BMC type 10;. Provenance: Metal detecting find Oud-Zevenaar, near the assumed location of an 8th century church. NUMIS nr. 1150617; acq.: 04-2020 The series D sceatas consists of three distinct styles: the BMC type 8, showing a standard on the obverse and a runic inscription on the reverse; the BMC type 2c (which is the most abundant) showing a bust, facing right on most coins, with a runic inscription in front, and the same runic inscription as type 8, and BMC type 10, showing the same bust as type 2c (die links have been found) and a 'porcupine' radiate bust on the reverse. This coin (BMC type 10) is closely connected to the mint of type 2C (as suggested by the die links), but much rarer - fewer than 30 specimens of this coin are known, possibly indicating a smaller, independent mint. This coin is die linked to chain 312-325 (obverse die link), and 318-319 (reverse die link), minted in Kerk-Averza and Escharen. Other find locations of this type are IJzendoorn, Valkenburg and Ven-Zederheide. Locations in the United Kingdom include Bedford and Bawsey; two locations are unsure (one in Friesland, and one unknown). Nr 9: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series D, BMC type 2c), minted: Frisia; 690-715 AD Obv: Degenerated diademed head, runic inscriptings before Rev: Central cross-pommee with dots on each corner; cross above, annulet below. Weight: 1.23g; Ø:11mm. Catalogue: No die match in Metcalf and Op den Velde, The Monetary Economy of the Netherlands, c. 690 - c. 715 and the Trade with England: A Study of the Sceattas of Series D. (JMP 2003). Provenance: Metal detecting find Oud-Zevenaar, near the assumed location of an 8th century church. Numis nr: 1150618 ; acq.: 04-2020 Nr 10: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series D type 8), minted: Frisia; 690-720 Obv: Dotted standard, annulet with pellet in center, around three V and one I, dot between. Outside standard, a pellet and largely off-center garbled legend Rev: Runic inscription (A V H) around cross-pommee, pellets around Weight: 1.18g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Found in Northern France, near Abbeville in 2019; acq.: 05-2020
(continued) Nr 11: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series E, variety G), minted: Frisia; 690-720 Obv: Porcupine' figure to the right, pellets above but not connected to spikes, triangle at right end of arc, with three pellets between triangle and arc. Below, upper end of standard Rev: Standard with square around consisting of dotted border, around pellets. Annulet in center, with pellet inside, around four horizontal lines with pellet at one end. Between, two pellets. Weight: 1.02g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: No die match in Metcalf & Op ten Velde (2010) (The Monetary Economy of the Netherlands, c. 690 - c. 760 and the Trade with England: A Study of the 'Porcupine' Sceattas of Series E). Provenance: Possibly found near Slappeterp, Friesland. Numis nr: 1150657; acq.: 05-2020 Nr 12: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series G (secondary phase, continental)), minted: England; 710/5-720 Obv: Diademed bust, wearing torque, large eye gazing heavenward, braided hair upright, wreath ties unknotted behind. Cross-pommé in front, three pellets below. Dotted border around Rev: Standard with four crosses pommé, pellets in between, in center annulet with pellet inside, within dotted square border. Around pellets with crosses in each quadrant (two visible) Weight: 1.21g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: Variety. Not in Abrahamson. Provenance: Found near Roosteren, the Netherlands, in 2019. Numis nr: 1150653; acq.: 05-2020 From Abrahamson: It is thought that this type may take its inspiration from Constantine the Great's dream-vision, reported by Eusebius of Caesarea and Lactantius, of a cross of light before the setting sun, bearing the inscription hoc signo victor eris, 'under this sign you shall be the victor', before the battle of Milvian Bridge on 28th October 312. This marked the start of Constantine's conversion to Christianity. Troops had proclaimed Constantine emperor in York in 306, on his father's death, so use of his image would be most appropriate, though little mention is made of this by the likes of Bede. The source of emissions is unknown; there are resonances with Merovingian deniers, with Metcalf discussing Quentonvic as a candidate. The best specimens show a coiffured hairstyle though the mainstream displays an upright, braided style. This decays into imitative types with some mingling with Series J (cross-on-)bird reverses. Contemporary imitations can form a valid part of the circulating medium Nr 13: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series E, variety E), minted: Frisia; 710/5-720 Obv: Porcupine figure with 5-6 spikes, ending in dots. Spine ending in triangular beak, dot within. Six dots below spine, part of square standard below beak. Rev: Square, with central annulet, dot within, and two dots on each side. Stripes ending in dots around. Outside square, cross and blundered legend Weight: 0.98g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: No die match in Metcalf & Op ten Velde (2010) (The Monetary Economy of the Netherlands, c. 690 - c. 760 and the Trade with England: A Study of the 'Porcupine' Sceattas of Series E), though almost identical to die chain 2922-2935. Provenance: Ex. P. Huisman; acq.: 06-2020 Nr 14: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series E, variety G), minted: Frisia; 690-720 Obv: Porcupine' with triangular beak. Spikes ending in dots, not attached to spine. Between beak and spine three pellets; below part of a standard Rev: Square standard of line with dots, inside pellet within annulet, horizontal line above and below ending in dots on each side. Weight: 0g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: Metcalf & Op ten Velde (2010) die chain 336-338 (plate 11, The Monetary Economy of the Netherlands, c. 690 - c. 760 and the Trade with England: A Study of the 'Porcupine' Sceattas of Series E). Provenance: Ex. Jan van Bergen; acq.: 07-2020 This is a somewhat light specimen (0.86 gram; they usually weigh around 1.0 - 1.2 gram), but it's not uncommon. It's completely black and shiny, and hence difficult to photograph. Interestingly, the obverse shows a die break at two places: inside the beak (near the sharp end of the triangle), and near the three pellets between the spine, the standard and the sharp end of the beak. None of my other sceatta's have die breaks. This, in combination with the lower weight, may point towards an (even less) unofficial mint, or later date. Nr 15: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series E, variety G), minted: Frisia; 690-720 Obv: 'Porcupine' figure with small triangular beak, distal end not attached to spine. Spine is relatively broad and course, with nine spikes (ending in pellets( not attached. Distal end of spine (between the ends of the beak), a pellet. Three bellets at tip of the beak, below the spine. Under spine and parallel to the distal end of the beak, a standard with two pellets. Rev: Square standard of line with dots, inside pellet within annulet, horizontal line above and below ending in dots on each side. Weight: 1.16g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: No diematch in The Monetary Economy of the Netherlands, c. 690 - c. 760 and the Trade with England: A Study of the 'Porcupine' Sceattas of Series E. Provenance: Found in Friesland; acq.: 07-2020 The reverse shows a test scratch. Nr 16: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series E, sub-variety E), minted: Frisia; 690-715 AD Obv: Porcupine figure with 7 spikes ending in dots. Curved spine with on dot near the end. Below Roman numerical XII; pellets below II; before the X a >; below the X a I Rev: Standard with central annulet, above a cross-pommee, on the right and left a V with a pellet on the inner side, below a curved v with a pellet on the inner side Weight: 0g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: Conform die chain 1670-1672 (Metcalf & Op ten Velde (2010) (The Monetary Economy of the Netherlands, c. 690 - c. 760 and the Trade with England: A Study of the 'Porcupine' Sceattas of Series E)). Provenance: Found in Rinsumageest (near Dokkum, Friesland).; acq.: 08-2020 So this coin was found in Rinsumageest, a (very) small village in the north of Magna Frisia. In a source from the 8th century, a village Ringesheim, built upon a terp is mentioned. Unfortunately, this terp, as with many hundreds of others, was completely removed and the soil used as fertilizer elsewhere in the Netherlands. Nr 17: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series R (R10. Rigold type R2) ), minted: East Anglia, uncertain mint; c. 710-750 AD Obv: Radiate bust of crude style right, annulet either side of head, runic "Wigræd", before, ΛO and pellets behind, wearing collared drapery Rev: Beaded degenerate standard containing symmetrical geometric symbols, central annulet, cross pommée to each side, diagonals at outer corners Weight: 0.72g; Ø:11mm. Catalogue: Abramson 11.150 (id. Provenance: Coin fair Houten; acq.: 09-2020 Relatively scarce (Ashmolian museum lists three; Abramson lists three other; PAN lists one die-identical example (both obv. and rev. die match: SF-1743C6) subtype of the series R with the name of the moneyer (?) "Wigraed" on the obverse, instead of the typical runic EPA. This coin probably belongs to the last twenty years of the production of this coinage, between 735 and 749, and therefore to the reign of Ealdwulf’s successor Aelfwald. Two named moneyers, Tilberht and Wigraed, were operating in Aelfwald’s reign; Wigraed possibly at Gipeswic, and Tilberht at Thetford. Nr 18: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series BIb, type 27b), minted: Mint in Essex or East Anglia; c 685-700 Obv: Diademed bust right, breaking inner border; blundered legend around Rev: Bird standing right upon cross; annulets flanking and two dots below; all within ouroboros (snake eating its own tail); three annulets below, blundered legend around Weight: 1.19g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: Abramson 16.10. Provenance: Coin fair Houten; acq.: 09-2020 Very pleasing dark toning. Nr 19: ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series E), minted: Mint in Frisia; 720-740 AD Obv: Porcupine-like figure, with spines ending in pellets. Straight thin spine, ending in steep curve. Four "I"'s below the spine, one attached to spine. Before two pellets. Below a triangle. Before the 'beak' five pellets. Rev: Square standard of line with dots, inside annulet, horizontal lines above and below ending in dots on each side. Weight: 1g; Ø:14mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Ex. Jan van Bergen; acq.: 09-2020 Plated fourree, seems to be cut from a sheet and partly folded around one sharp edge. iregular, oval-shaped flan (14x12mm). Pleasing oily-grey patina, sharp mint, Nr 20: (still need to properly describe this one, but it's a series E, probably var D)
Ype, what a wonderful list to end a wonderful year of collecting sceattas. I still remember that first sceatta you bought as if it were yesterday. The shady deal (people must have thought we were dealing in illegal substances) under the portal of the hospital just as the darkness was setting in – would could forget that! I could not have guessed that that single purchase would have led to this kind of collection in just one year, but it is the best outcome that could come out of selling that sceatta. The D type 10 , the B sceat and the r10 especially are fantastic and envy-inspiring coins! Here’s to many more years of sceattas and sceats!
Magnificent start @Roerbakmix! I’ve been looking at a rattan for the past year or so, but have yet to pull the trigger. Your posts have been pushing me closer to doing it
Beautiful coins, especially with just 1 year into them. I know I can easily get sucked into them but I drift in so many areas with coins, I try my hardest not getting into sceattas & so far have won.
What an impressive one year collection @Roerbakmix! Congrats. I like numbers 2,3,5 and 8 the most. I think it’s funny that so many porcupines are on these things. I have no idea how many porcupines were in England or on the continent in the 600-800’s but it certainly makes me wonder. This is a well written and informative thread. Thanks, I learned something today.
Great job @Roerbakmix These little coins are addictive! No. 18 is sometimes considered a BX/BI mule or transitional coin because of the presence of the shoulder on the obverse (characteristic of BX). The reverse lacks the cross on steps seen on BX. There are lots of little varieties in the sceatta series and it’s a fascinating branch of numismatics
It's not really a porcupine is it? I read an article that said it was a super abstract version of a portrait.
Thanks @Nap, I'll add that to the description. @OutsiderSubtype: you're correct, it is everything except a porcupine. Not sure who coined the term, but I believe Metcalf wrote something like 'to avoid needless discussions about what exactly is depicted on the series E, these coins were called "porcupine", which is one thing they can not be, since no porcupines have ever lived in that region'
Brilliant, @Roerbakmix. The depth with which you approach this is infectious. You're undoubtedly enlisting some competition on the collecting front.
