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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Gavin Richardson, post: 2906989, member: 83956&quot;]Sweet coin. And now for some Old English trivia. <i>Æthel</i> is an OE simplex meaning “noble” (hence the OE term for a prince, “<i>aetheling</i>.” Æthel also survives as the female given name <i>Ethel</i>).</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Ræd</i> means “counsel.” So Æthelred’s name means “noble counsel.” Æthelred II reigned for a long time but did not handle the Viking threat particularly well, hence his derisive name “Æthelred the Unready.” Unless one knows the OE meaning of <i>Ræd</i>, it sounds as if Æthelred didn’t have his shoes tied or something when the Danes showed up. But the name means “Æthelred the Poorly Counseled,” in contrast to his “Noble Counsel” name. The implication is that he was a poorly served King, and as a result, the Danes got the best of him and his government.</p><p><br /></p><p>At least this lovely coin didn’t end up in the greedy paws of some Viking warrior. At least not forever.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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