I was thrilled to receive my most recent addition: a Serie E 'plumed bird' sceatta. My collection focus has drifted towards early medieval coinage (the sceatta phase, c. 690-760 AD), minted in current England, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Danmark. Typically, sceatta's are categorized in series (Serie A, B, C, etc.), and grouped within these series in subvarieties (e.g. VICO, VERNVS, etc.). In a relatively short period of time, the gold thrysma's (c. 650-690) debased to the silver sceatta, which in turn consists of two phases: the primary phase (c. 690-715/20) and secondary (c. 715/20 - 760), more or less based on hoard evidence. Usually, coins from the primary phase adhere better to the prototype than those minted in the secondary phase. Though in this area little is known with certainty, it is more or less accepted that the series E sceatta's, or the "porcupines" were minted on the Continent. In a previous post, I presented a stylistic breakdown of the primary phase sceatta's from this series - and the coin I received in the mail falls in this period. To reiterate, this is what I wrote on the Plumed Bird variety: The plumed bird The plumed bird is grouped into four subvariations: On the obverse, we see a bird-like creature with two claws / legs, and a beak. Under the beak, we se a cross, or a pellet-within annulet. On the reverse, we see a central pellet-within annulet, flanked by a group of three pellets (triangle < > for var J; triangle > < for var K - the only difference in this group). Var L is somewhat different, as it includes pellets-within-annulet on the obverse and reverse; var M is known from only four specimens and includes crosses on the reverse (as the series [not variety!] G from France). So, to summarize: Series E, plumed bird, variety J Obverse: naturalistic body and curved neck. Cross-pommée under beak Reverse: four parallel lines, with triangle of pellets (facing outward) Series E, plumed bird, variety K Obverse: naturalistic body and curved neck. Cross-pommée under beak Reverse: same as variety J, but triangle of pellets facing inwards Series E, plumed bird, variety L Obverse: tubular body, with neck continued as a straight line. Under beak a pellet within annulet Five annulets with pellets inside, in each quadrant triangle of pellets. Series E, plumed bird, variety M Very rare subgroup, obverse largely identical to variety L, but reverse shows four crosses, with central annulet with pellet in side. I already have the Plumed bird var J and L (the var K is only a matter of time; and the var M probably unatainable). However, recently, I spotted this specimen: ... which is a mule of a plumed bird with a serie E variety E reverse (see comparable example from my collection below): At first, I believed it to be unique, however, when looking op Metcalf & Op den Veldes exhaustive die study, I identified another, found in Winchester. Interestingly, my coin appears to be a die-match (both obverse and reverse) to their specimen, which in turn was a obverse die-match to another mule (reverse TTO/\ type), which was part of a small hoard found in France. So, though scarce, I was a bit of a bummer to find out it wasn't unique. On to the coin that is in fact unique, and the reason for this thread. Only one week later, another seller I regularly buy from offered a rather poor plumed bird variety. With the experience of the last coin, I quickly checked the reverse, only to find out that this was in fact again a mule - this time not reported in any of the standard works. The coin was shipped to me, in a thick bubble-wrapped enveloppe, sealed in tape. However, when I opened the envelope, this was what greeted me: On close inspection, the coin turned out to be crystallized. Though I was able to glue it all together, it's such a shame: Nonetheless, the coin is of (numismatic) interest, as it combines an unrecorded obverse die with an unrecorded reverse die (probably of series E, var h). Though not die-matched to the two other mules, this is again a combination of a die from the primary phase (690-715) with a reverse die from the secondary phase (715-760). Yet, while the style of the first two (obverse)-die-matched coins could be regarded as imitative, the obverse of the present coin is less crude. Supposing a more or less official mint (if something like that existed in this period), mules like these can offer new insights in the minting process: perhaps the plumed bird types were minted in late-primary phase, or alternatively, the var E, var h and TTo/\-var minted early-secondary. Perhaps this distinction of primary- and secondary phases is not so clear-cut at all. Though unsure to draw a conclusion, possessing a unique coin (even one that's damaged) is fun and encourages me to keep looking for unrecognized rarities. Please, post anything you find relevant!
Many years ago while I was working at ANACS I took a fairly decent Denarius of Julius Caesar out of a flip, and it fell in two right down the middle onto the pad. Old crystalized fault line had failed in the mail. Though it was not our fault we offered the submittor his declared value, $800, and after asking us to send it back to him for a looksee he sent it back and took the offer. We gave it to the ANA Museum Curator and he glued it back together. It has been on display in the Museum off and on over the years.
That’s a remarkable coin and of a type that I was completely unaware before your excellent post. Thank you for sharing your experience which illustrates the effects of time and the environment on ancient silver. I have new appreciation for coins that have survived the centuries.
I am not a collector of coins of that era. Without doing a great deal of research, what are those coins made of that they could "break?"
Silver crystalizes over time, and it's not uncommon for ancient silver coins to become very brittle. Sometimes the surface looks fine, but internally there has been enough change that too much pressure will just snap the coin.
This is not at all of relevance to my collecting, but the post and responses are fascinating. I certainly didn't know that about silver crystallizing and turning brittle.
Thankfully I have never had a coin arrive broke, if one did, I would send it back no matter the coin, but that's just me. Nice coin either way. I haven't jumped into sceattas as I know I would start collecting them ontop of all the others I side collect *looking as you Parthia*
@Roerbakmix, of all people, you are The Wrong One for this to happen to! Congratulations on the brilliant repair, though. And an unpublished variety! ...Your posts are so well done, even I'm learning something --effectively starting from 'ground zero'! I have to wonder if teaching is anywhere in your background.
Thanks all for the kind comments! That's what I like about this hobby: the total liberty to collect whatever area interests you. If budget is an issue, and you're just looking for a representative type, I would suggest a series E (continental, minted in Frisia). They usually go for between 100-300€, depending on condition and type.
Congrulations with a unique coin! That is thrilling indeed. Just so sad that it broke. You did a good job on glueing it back, looks good. Now, I do find the images on sceatta's very puzzling, but i did recognize the bird immediately and without any help. Job well done, die engraver!