Reform Coinage AD 973-5

Small diademed bust left, EADGAR/Small Cross

Lincoln / Grind

S1141; 20x11mm, 0.88g

A pleasing example with good portrait at a fraction of the price of a complete penny.

Eadgar (959-975): Known as ‘The Peaceful’ – Eadgar’s reign flies in stark contrast to that of his older brother. His reign was indeed stable and peaceable – reflecting to some the very pinnacle of the 10^th century English state. Overthrowing many social norms, he was not crowned until 973 – perhaps keen to make a political statement in celebrating the very peak of his power and authority. Uniquely, his third wife Ælfthryth was anointed as Queen alongside him – an unprecedented occurrence. For numismatists his reign is of acute interest – as he instigated a major reform of both weights and measures alongside with the coinage itself. From 972, coins were no longer struck regionally – instead, new types using standardised, centrally produced dies would be issued every few years and the old money called in for re-minting. The use of non-portrait designs was dropped totally, every subsequent coin struck in England bearing the image of the King on its obverse face. His premature death in 975 marked the beginning of a decline which England would take decades to emerge from.

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+ EADVVIG REX around small cross.

Mann +++ Mone (retrograde) in 3 lines.

S1122; 21mm, 1.48g

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dark tone and signs that it was once straightened, no cracks or edge loss and good metal.

This coin comes with a previous printed label.

Eadwig (955-959): Eadwig was the elder son of Eadmund, taking the throne after achieving his majority. One of the shortest reigning of all the Late Anglo-Saxon Kings, Eadwig’s reign was plagued by factionalism and alleged scandal. Popular history tells us that he was discovered by Abbot Dunstan ‘cavorting’ with an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman and her daughter during his coronation feast, though this is almost certainly a later fabrication. It is thought that his animosity with the Church was rooted in their dissolving of his marriage on account that he and his wife were too related. This caused an apparent schism in the English court, with some supporting Eadwig’s position and others his younger brother -Eadgar. Numerous land-gifts by Eadwig during his reign have been interpreted as an attempt to bring further support to his cause. However, in 957, Eadwig was forced to acknowledge his brother’s co-rule alongside him – but conveniently died in 959 before a full-blown civil war could break out. His coins are probably the rarest of all the Later Anglo-Saxon monarchs, being very hard to find in general.

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Type 1

Monogram for REX/Five annulets, each containing a pellet, joined to form a cross

S873; 19mm, 1.39g

A fabulous coin, well struck in good silver with pleasing surfaces and crisp detail. The smallest of edge chips as can be seen in photos.

This coin comes with a collectors handwritten note stating that it was found at Tonbridge, Kent in 1980.

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Eadberht III Praen (796-798) – an obscure individual apparently residing at the court of Frankish King Charlemagne (who may well have sponsored his insurrection), Eadberht took power in late 796 following the death of Offa of Mercia. However, his attempt stalled when Pope Leo III refused to ratify his rule – ruling instead that Offa’s successor Coenwulf had every right to wage war on Eadberht and re-take Kent. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle states that Eadberht was quickly captured and brought back to Mercia, but his ultimate fate is unknown. One source states that he was mutilated and blinded, another that he was set free.

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Danish East Anglia AD 885-954 Silver Penny

St Edmunds Memorial

Alpha / Small Cross

S960; 19mm, 1.40g

Obverse well struck and with a lovely coppery coloured tone, reverse double struck but legible.

This coin comes with a previous hand written collector’s label.

Saint Edmund’s pennies

Perhaps the most numerous of the Anglo-Viking issues struck in the Danelaw are the so-called ‘St Edmund Memorial’ pennies, copying issues of Edmund – the King of East Anglia who was martyred in 869. These coins were struck in several phases from c. 895-910 by a dizzying array of moneyers, who demonstrate not only indigenous Anglo-Saxon names but also Scandinavian and even continental ones. These attest to a thriving, internationally-reaching polity that was probably somewhat diverse.

It might seem bizarre to think that the sons and grandsons of those who had originally killed Edmund had now moved to striking coins celebrating him as ‘SC EADMUND’ (Saint Edmund) within their own territory. However, perhaps there is a relevant point here to be made concerning the extent to which Christian beliefs had been adopted and the hold which Edmund’s cult held over the local populace. Perhaps the newly-converted Danes, feeling guilty for their ancestors’ martyrdom of Edmund, were trying to make spiritual amends by venerating him on their coins?

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Crowned bust right / small cross

S1115; 20mm, 0.9g

Struck in good silver but with rusty dies so surfaces appear rough.

This coin comes with rough find area provenance and a previous handwritten collector’s label.

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Eadred (946-955): On taking the throne, Eadred faced exactly the same issue as his brother had some seven years before – Northumbria yet again separating from England. Keen to stamp the problem out for good, Eadred seems to have engaged in a ‘scorched earth’ policy – destroying the region’s infrastructure and incentivising its inhabitants to support him over their usual Norse allies. This eventually worked, as in 954 the last ‘Viking’ King of York was exiled and promptly murdered by one of his own dissatisfied nobles. This is certainly Eadred’s best known achievement, though he also was keenly involved in the promotion of Benedictine monasticism – which flourished in England during his reign. He seems to have been badly affected by some sort of digestive disease that prevented him being properly nourished by food, and died childless in 955.

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Small cross each side

London mint

Moneyer Eie

S1093; 21mm, 1.61g

This coin comes with a previous handwritten collectors label.

ex J. Cross Collection

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Æthelstan (924-937): Regarded by some as the very best of all the English Kings (even better than Alfred), Æthelstan’s achievements draw on aspects of both his father and grandfather’s rule. In addition to being a capable military commander and well-able to defend the realm, he was also a statesman of note. Securing his borders with Wales via clever diplomacy and making supreme efforts to ensure that Scandinavian-aligned Northumbria would not break away from England, he was also deeply concerned with undertaking sweeping legal reforms. A shrewd man in matters fiscal, he promoted regional trade centres, re-organised aspects of the minting process and struck coins bearing his name that declared him ‘King of All Britain’ – a proud but perhaps not totally inaccurate boast. In 937, he achieved a stunning victory when he defeated a joint invasion force of Dublin Norse and Scottish at the Battle of Brunanburgh – though he died only a few years later.

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Crowned bust type right/Small cross

Lifinc Moneta

S1094; 20mm, 1.53g

Good silver and dark tone with some iridescence, extremely well struck for this usually soft issue. A premium coin

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Æthelstan (924-937): Regarded by some as the very best of all the English Kings (even better than Alfred), Æthelstan’s achievements draw on aspects of both his father and grandfather’s rule. In addition to being a capable military commander and well-able to defend the realm, he was also a statesman of note. Securing his borders with Wales via clever diplomacy and making supreme efforts to ensure that Scandinavian-aligned Northumbria would not break away from England, he was also deeply concerned with undertaking sweeping legal reforms. A shrewd man in matters fiscal, he promoted regional trade centres, re-organised aspects of the minting process and struck coins bearing his name that declared him ‘King of All Britain’ – a proud but perhaps not totally inaccurate boast. In 937, he achieved a stunning victory when he defeated a joint invasion force of Dublin Norse and Scottish at the Battle of Brunanburgh – though he died only a few years later.

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St Edmunds Memorial

Alpha / Small Cross

S960; 19x14mm, 0.94g

Damaged

Saint Edmund’s pennies

Perhaps the most numerous of the Anglo-Viking issues struck in the Danelaw are the so-called ‘St Edmund Memorial’ pennies, copying issues of Edmund – the King of East Anglia who was martyred in 869. These coins were struck in several phases from c. 895-910 by a dizzying array of moneyers, who demonstrate not only indigenous Anglo-Saxon names but also Scandinavian and even continental ones. These attest to a thriving, internationally-reaching polity that was probably somewhat diverse.

It might seem bizarre to think that the sons and grandsons of those who had originally killed Edmund had now moved to striking coins celebrating him as ‘SC EADMUND’ (Saint Edmund) within their own territory. However, perhaps there is a relevant point here to be made concerning the extent to which Christian beliefs had been adopted and the hold which Edmund’s cult held over the local populace. Perhaps the newly-converted Danes, feeling guilty for their ancestors’ martyrdom of Edmund, were trying to make spiritual amends by venerating him on their coins?

The post Anglo Viking Danish East Anglia AD 885-954 Silver Penny appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Small cross / Moneyers name in 2 lines

Diarwald

S1105; 21mm, 1.08g

This coin comes with a previous collectors handwritten label.

This coin is part of the Warwick Collection, a fine selection of English Medieval silver coins.

Eadmund (939-946):  Second son of Edward the Elder, Eadmund ascended to the throne as his brother (and predecessor) Æthelstan had no children. Though forced to make early concessions when Anlaf Guthfrithsson succeeded in resurrecting the old kingdom of Danish Northumbria, Eadmund retook the region after consolidating his position. Sometimes known by the epithet ‘The Magnificent’, Eadmund was a litigious man – noted for his compilation of several law codes. Most of these are concerned with increasing social stability and creating a more structured, mutually supportive society. However, he was also evidently interested with aspects of the occult – some of his ordinances forbid the consumption of hallucinogenic plants and performance of magic or sorcery! He was abruptly murdered in 946 by an outlaw while defending one of his servants, and was succeeded by his younger brother Eadred because his own children were too young to become monarchs in their own right.

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Charles the Bald AD 840-877 Silver Denier

Cross pattee / Karolus monogram

Melle

21mm, 1.39g

This coin comes with a previous collectors handwritten label.

This coin is part of the Warwick Collection, a fine selection of English Medieval silver coins.

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