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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Nap, post: 8092042, member: 73099&quot;]A recent thread on &quot;worst coins&quot; inspired this post, which I call &quot;Wretched rarities&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>These are atrocious coins that look like they should have been put out of their misery long ago, but which are extremely rare and thus a treasured part of our collection.&nbsp; These could scarcely be replaced, even with unlimited funds, just because of the overall difficulty finding another.</p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;ll start with a few examples:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1406460[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Sceat of Æthelwald Moll, king of Northumbria 759-765 with Ecgberht, Archbishop of York</p><p>Mint: York (presumably)</p><p>S. 853</p><p>N. 192.5</p><p>Abramson 76-10</p><p>O: +EDILhpLd</p><p>R: ECGBERhT A[R]</p><p><br /></p><p>Æthelwald, also called Moll, was a nobleman who ascended the throne after the murder of King Oswulf, which he may have orchestrated. He was deposed after some years, and went to a monastery. His son Æthelred I would later become king in Northumbria as well.</p><p>Only 5 coins of Aethelwald are known.&nbsp; This particular example has been known since the early 19th century.&nbsp; Despite the damage, it was recognized for its rarity and was first published in 1841, where it was drawn for the article.&nbsp; For nearly 200 years it was the only example known, though metal detecting has brought to light 4 other examples in the last few years.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1406462[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Penny of Wiglaf, king of Mercia (second reign) 830-839</p><p>Moneyer: Redmund</p><p>Mint: London</p><p>S. 934</p><p>N 401.2</p><p>O: +VVIGLAF REX M</p><p>R: N +REDMV D</p><p><br /></p><p>Wiglaf was king of Mercia from 827-839. His reign was interrupted from 829-830 by the conquest of Mercia by Ecgberht of Wessex, who took London in 829. The occupation was short lived however, and Wiglaf regained his throne the next year.</p><p><br /></p><p>Despite a relatively long rule (compared to other 9th century Mercian kings), coins of Wiglaf are excessively rare. There are two types, one with a portrait of the king by the moneyer Aethelhun, and a nonportrait type by the moneyers Burgherd and Redmund. Redmund also struck coins for King Ecgberht when he occupied Mercia. The portrait coins are typically assigned to Wiglaf&#039;s first reign while the nonportrait type is given to the second reign, but this is a guess at best. There are only 11 or 12 coins of this king known, with about half in museums.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1406463[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Penny of David I of Scotland (1124-1153)</p><p>Mint: Carlisle</p><p>Moneyer: Erebald</p><p>Imitation of Henry I BMC XV</p><p>S. 5001</p><p>O: +DA[VI]D [ ]</p><p>R: [+]EREBA[LD: O]N C[A]RD[:]</p><p><br /></p><p>Believed to be the first coin made in Scotland. It imitates Henry I&#039;s last type but in the name of David. Made by the moneyer Erebald, who coined for Henry, David, and Stephen. Presumably produced after David&#039;s invasion of England following the usurpation of Stephen of Blois. This coin really demonstrates the Anarchy of the time. A masterpiece it is not! Poorly made, with only a few survivors known, most of which are in wretched shape. As far as I can tell, all known examples are from the same die pair. There are probably about 10 known, including damaged examples.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1406461[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Penny or halfpenny of John, lord of Ireland, or of John de Courcy, lord of Ulster</p><p>Mint: unknown (probably Dublin)</p><p>Moneyer: Raul Blunt</p><p>S. 6203</p><p>O: +IOA[NNES], bust right</p><p>R: [+RA]VL BLVNT</p><p><br /></p><p>This coin is generally considered the first Anglo-Irish coin produced in Ireland. It dates from the end of the 12th century, though it is not quite clear who issued it. The name on the obverse is just &quot;John&quot;. The figure is not crowned. It could be King John (not yet a king) who was declared Lord of Ireland in 1177 by his father Henry II. Or the John could be John de Courcy who was in control of Ulster at the same time. This coin dates from around 1179. Both Lord John and John de Courcy would both issue coinage.</p><p><br /></p><p>The &quot;profile right&quot; coinage is exceedingly rare. Besides this coin, there are some 12-15 other specimens known. Three moneyers are known- Raul Blunt, Elis of Dublin, and Roger Tan. Given the reference to Dublin by the moneyer Elis, the coins are thought to be produced there and thus attributed to Lord John, future King John. However, Derek Allen has argued in the past that the coins all depict moneyers with last names and that does not clearly indicate where the coins were made. John de Courcy minted at Carrickfergus and Downpatrick and the lettering of these coins is similar to de Courcy&#039;s coinage. So the jury remains out on which John.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Let&#039;s see your wretched rarities!&nbsp; I&#039;d like to see other worn, broken, scratched, holed, and otherwise messed up pieces of great scarcity.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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