2017- my ten coin year in review (British Anglo-Saxon coins)

Another year done, again I've been fortunate to add some more coins to the old collection. Some are upgrades, some are new for me. It's nice to reflect, sit back, and enjoy the hobby we are priveleged to participate. I do enjoy reading others' threads, and as I have for the past few years, I'll post my top 10 as well.

As some of you know, my main interest is coinage from Anglo-Saxon England, a period which runs from the mid 7th century to the mid 11th. The study of this period is, at least to me, a fascinating glimpse into a dimly lit time period. Despite the poor remnants of documentation, some parts of the times have drifted into our modern consciousness: Beowulf and Grendel, Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom, marauding Vikings, Alfred the Great, Venerable Bede, illuminated manuscripts such as the Lindisfarne Gospels, the treasures of Sutton Hoo and Staffordshire, Offa's dyke, and of course the origins of the English language itself.

On to the coins! In chronologic order:


Thrymsa, approximately 655-675
Monarch: unknown, possible Eorcenberht, Ecgberht I, or Hlothere
Mint: unknown, probably Kent
S.770
O: TNAVG ANG
R: PADA(in runic) ANVSPFAN

Likely Kentish transitional pale gold thrymsa of the mid-late 7th century. Debasement of gold coinage took place during the production of several gold shillings or "thrymsas", culminating in a coinage that was mostly silver. These thrymsas predate the sceatta coinage.
Strong resemblance to old Roman coins, as with many of the early "Dark Age" coinage. Here, the coin spells out "Pada-anvs" with PADA in runic. Copied from something like GRATIANVS, with a change to show its unique Anglo-Saxon flair. Pada was almost certainly the moneyer, and not a king or warlord.


Sceatta of probably Kentish origin
S.779
O: Radiate bust right, APA in runes
R: Degenerated standard with TOTII
A "primary phase" sceat, probably dating from ~710 featuring a head and the letters spelling Apa, possibly a moneyer. Probably from Kent.
The quality of the artistry during the primary phase decreased as time progressed. The reverse "standard" is derived from old Roman coins.


Sceat of Eadberht, king of Northumbria 737-758
Mint: York (presumably)
S. 847B
O: EOTBEREhTVſ.
R: Fantastic animal facing left
One of the earliest English kings to issue coins, Eadberht's coinage features what is called a "fantastic animal" which is something of a heraldic horse-dragon that must have had some meaning for the dynasty of Northumbria. This creature would feature on later coins of his successors as well.


Sceat of Alchred, king of Northumbria 765-774 with Ecgberht, archbishop of York
Mint: York (presumably)
S. 854
O: +AL.hHRDh (retrograde)
R: EGBERhT AR
Produced in the last year of Archbishop Ecgberht's life, who died shortly into Alchred's reign. Ecgberht produced coins with Eadberht, Aethelwald Moll, and Alchred. He was a contemporary and friend of Venerable Bede, who in a surviving letter laments the fact that he's too ill to visit him (given the times and the fact that Bede died shortly after, this is probably not one of those convenient excuses).


Sceat of Aethelred I, king of Northumbria, second reign 789-796
Moneyer: Ceolbald
Mint: York (presumably)
S. 856
O: +AEDILRED ℞
R: +CEOLBĀLD
Aethelred saw the coinage of Northumbria transition from the animal design sceattas to the still silver styca-type, with nothing more than a king named on one side, and a moneyer on the other. There was no interesting artisty and the coins are awfully boring to see, though the simplicity helps make them quite easy to identify.
Ceolbald was Aethelred I's most prolific moneyer. His coins feature some interesting designs in the central motifs, like the ℞ on this issue.


Styca of Aethelred II, king of Northumbria (first reign) 841-844
Moneyer: Unknown
Mint: York (presumably)
S. 865
O: +EDILRED RE
R: +EDILRED RE
Eanred's son Aethelred reigned for 8 years following his father's death, with an interruption in 844 when Redwulf took over. Redwulf died fighting the Vikings that same year, and Aethelred was reinstated.
Double reverse coins are uncommon in the styca series, but do occasionally pop up. On the other hand, double obverse coins are relatively rare. This particular coin is of good style, meaning it was probably made from official dies rather than a later imitative type belonging to the chaotic irregular coins of the late 850s.


Styca of Osberht, king of Northumbria 849-867
Moneyer: Winiberht
Mint: York (presumably)
S. 869
O: OSBERCHT RE
R: VINIBERHT
Osberht was the last king of an independent Northumbria. He was preoccupied with fighting a rival, Aella, when the Vikings arrived in his kingdom with a huge army, intent on conquest and not just plunder. Reportedly Osberht and Aella set aside their differences, and joined in battle together in the last desperate stand against the invaders. Unfortunately for them, it wasn't enough, and reportedly both were killed in the battle. Osberht is the last king to mint stycas (coins are not known for Aella).
Overall the style of the latest stycas deteriorates from previous generations, and a coin like this, though crude, is actually a reasonable example


Viking penny in the name of St. Peter of York ca. 910-920
Moneyer: unknown
Mint: probably York
S.1006 (var.)
O: ZCIIIT R, tree and key symbols
R: +B.RACEC
This a rare variant of the "swordless" St. Peter coinage, with a blundered version of "Sancti Petri" in one line, instead of the usual two lines. Viking coinage in York began at around the start of the 10th century with a coinage in the names of Cnut and Siefred, a probably short-lived coinage but one which survives in great numbers due to the Cuerdale hoard. Subsequently, an anonymous coinage in the name of St. Peter follows, of which this coin is probably a late type. After the St. Peter coinage there was an inscribed coinage in the names of Ragnald and Sihtric Caech, Hiberno-Norse kings from Ireland who conquered Northumbria. A subsequent anonymous second coinage in 920s in the name of St. Peter features a sword (probably the Sword of Carlus, a 9th century Irish Viking hero), and Thor's hammer. The Vikings wrangled with the kings of Wessex throughout the 10th century until king Eadred of England brought Northumbria into the English fold. Viking coinage continued, mostly in the name of the kings of York, until the mid 10th century, culminating with Eric Bloodaxe. All Viking coinage from York is rare, but the Cnut, Siefred, and St. Peter coinages are the most common, due to their survival in several large hoards. The one-line St. Peter coins make up a rare subset of the earlier swordless type. There are only a handful known, and they all feature symbols, including the tree, the key (St. Peter's key to heaven), a candelabra, a star or propeller, and a large cross.


Penny of Aethelstan, king of Wessex, 924-939
Moneyer: Godfred
North East mint
S. 1089
O: +AEDELSTAN REX
R: GOFD +++ RED Mo
Aethelstan, with the sobriquet "the Glorious" consolidated power in the former heptarchy, and can probably be considered the first king of England.


Penny of Eadred, king of England 946-955
Moneyer: Wilbeorht
Mint: unknown (possibly Norwich)
S. 1115
O: crowned bust, +EADRED RENE
R: AAILEBERT MONETA
A portrait penny of King Eadred. Eadred's reign was marked by conflict with the Vikings in Northumbria, and their adventurous leader Eric Bloodaxe. By the end of Eadred's reign however, Northumbria was brought into the English fold.

 

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Fantastic coins Nap! I had been looking into contemporaries of Bede myself, so i'm impressed by the Alchred.

 

Excellent post! I really enjoyed your writeup of those coins. That collection is great. These coins bring to mind the Anglo-Saxon language and literature course I took during my first university degree. I very much enjoyed reading the Wanderer, the seafarer, the dream of the rood, the Battle of Maldon, and of course Beowulf.

I will admit that I am most intrigued by your coin of Eadred.

Here is the closest I have to that very interesting yet elusive period of history. King Cnut. I really like the artistry of the obverses during this period.

 

Thats quite a group of Anglo Saxon coins. Very impressive. I especially like S-847B.

 

Those coins are just fantastic, just recently visiting the UK I have a fascination of their early coinage, so like them all but that Sceat of Eadberht is just perfect.

 

Very neat coins!

 

Those are fantastic pieces of History !
That Sceat of Eadberht's fantastic animal is fantastic !

Q

 

A very nice selection.

 

Those are some wonderful coins @Nap
I love the Viking penny of York and the penny of Aethelstan. Your coins are are real treat to behold.

@Orfew an Anglo-Saxon language and literature course sounds like a great time.

 

Interesting coins and write up - thank you for sharing!

 

I'd take all of them . All lovely coins!

 

Well done @Nap ! Every time I see those Anglo-Saxon type of coins, I have to agree with @lordmarcovan , that it was an extremely mysterious time in history. We all talk about the migrations and invasions of the Saxons, but not much depth in those times. (Hey @FitzNigel , I have not said the "D" word! LOL )

I have nothing to truly offer up. Have been casually looking for Saxon/Dane coins, but no triggers pulled...

How about one that was struck from the area that is almost 1000 years later!


England Elizabeth I AR 3 Pence 1566 Her bust l rose shield 19 mm G

 

A remarkable treasure-hoard! In its honor, here's a recently discovered, previously unknown fragment of Beowulf, recording the Geatish hero's legendary bar-fight.

 

Funny. Thanks for posting that I really enjoyed it.

It reminds me of these lines from Chaucer several centuries later

To reden on this cursed book al nyght,
789
Al sodeynly thre leves have I plyght
790
Out of his book, right as he radde, and eke
791
I with my fest so took hym on the cheke
792
That in oure fyr he fil bakward → .
793
And he up stirte as dooth a wood leoun,
794
And with his fest he smoot me on the heed,
795
That in the floor I lay as I were deed.

 

This is the most hillarious thing I have read in ages. Thank you. Where is it from?

 

I've had it for years without ever knowing. Apparently it comes from this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0...mp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0395404614

 

Yes. The Wife of Bath is tired of hearing her latest boy-toy Jankyn read tales from his misogynistic florilegium, his "Boke of Wikked Wyves." It's a bit of a chilling depiction of domestic violence amid an otherwise amusing prologue. But when I have students try to make manuscript quires using medieval methods, they appreciate how labor-intensive the production is, and they better understand (though not condone) Jankyn's violence when the Wife rips pages from his book.

 

What an awesome group! Though I'm a generalist collector, I'm particularly fascinated by Anglo-Saxon coins and could easily get sucked in to getting a lot more... except for the cost! I would love to get a thrymsa though I can't hope to own such a nice one, and an Alchred/Ecgberht seems to be awfully pricy too. However I have added an Osberht to my "must have" list, much more affordable. Do you have an Alfred?

Here's my newest relevant acquisition which I like a lot, but which I haven't researched much yet. All I have at the moment is that it is from a mint in the Kent/North Thames area around 700-710. Any further info you can offer would be gratefully received!