`Saxon Coins

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**Extra images now added**

Early Anglo-Saxon Gold Coins

WAu-8056: **Choice** Saxon Merovingian Gold Tremissis. Wico in Pontio (Quentovic), c. 620-640. Tremissis (Gold, 13mm, 1.26g, 0h), Moneyer Dutta. +VVICCO FIT Laureate bust to right. Rev. DVTTA MONET, Cross on three steps. Belfort 4959. NM II p. 55, 14. Prou 1125. Rare but rarer still being centrally struck and such good grade. Clear and well struck, good very fine or better. The Merovingian Dynasty was based in ancient Gaul (which is now France) and dates from the middle of the 5th century AD. The coins were very much trading pieces and many have been found in Britain as Saxon trade between the Continent and Britain was extremely robust. Similar examples have been found as far west as Cornwall and as far north as Northumbria. Ex Ian Millington (an expert on Anglo Saxon coinage), ex Silbury Coins (their ticket), ex DNW. You will not find a better example of this early Saxon gold coin. It really is a choice coin. See the gold section

WAu-8089: Early Anglo-Saxon English Crondall Gold Thrysma or Shilling. Witman type with obverse bust right, a trident in front. Circa 620-45. The reverse has a blundered legend surrounding a crude cross with what is a very different 4th terminal to what we'd normally expect to see on this type. Sutherland type IV.1, Spink 753. Of excellent gold content - it was from this point onwards that the metal used for Saxon coinage was increasingly and progressively "watered down" with silver (the post Crondall and European types have that insipid gold colour about them) until by circa AD 660's, they were all entirely silver in metal content. Recorded on the E.M.C. database (2022-0426). The Crondall (Hampshire) Hoard of 1828 was the single largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold coins found prior to the 21st century. It comprised 97 gold coins, together with three unstruck gold planchets and one gold-plated object that could have been a coin forgery. Of the 97 coins, 73 were Anglo-Saxon Thrymsa and 24 were Merovingian or Frankish tremissis. The consensus amongst historians is that hoard dates from between AD 635 and about AD 650. The coins are now in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford. Of the 73 Thrysmas, x4 in the hoard had the same obverse die as the coin listed here. All Crondall "Native Anglo-Saxon" type Thrysmas as rare - even the late "two emperors" type, which is invariably the one to turn up, is rare as very few gold Saxon coins were minted and hardly any survived - it would only be through hoards or casual field losses. This is an extremely important and significant Anglo-Saxon gold coin. See the gold section

WAu-9097: Anglo-Saxon Britain Gold Thrymsa or Shilling - Crondall Type. Witman derived 1 type, circa 620-45 AD. Obverse bust right, a trident in front. The bust is most interesting as unlike most of this type, it clearly shows the long hair at the neck together with the impressive collar. The reverse is a plain cross in an inner circle surrounded by a blundered legend. Of excellent gold content - it was from this point onwards that the gold used for Saxon coinage was increasingly and progressively "watered down" with silver (the post Crondall and later European types have that insipid, debased gold colour about them) until by circa AD 660's, just a single generation on, they were all entirely silver in metal content. See old tickets here. The Crondall (Hampshire) Hoard of 1828 was the single largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold coins found prior to the 21st century. It comprised 97 gold coins, together with three unstruck gold planchets and one gold-plated object that could have been a coin forgery. Of the 97 coins, 73 were Anglo-Saxon Thrymsa and 24 were Merovingian or Frankish tremissis. The consensus amongst historians is that hoard dates from between AD 635 and about AD 650. The coins are now in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford. While it remains on the internet, it's well worth looking at this forum post: https://www.numisforums.com/topic/1332-the-anglo-saxon-gold-coins-of-the-crondall-hoard/ as it gives an excellent summary of the coinage, as well as having a good illustration of a die pair to this coin. All Crondall "Native Anglo-Saxon" type Thrysmas are rare - even the late "two emperors" type, which is invariably the one to turn up. Very few gold Saxon coins were minted and hardly any survived - it would only be through hoards or casual field losses. It is interesting to note the Christian cross on the reverse. In AD 595, Pope Gregory the Great chose Augustine to lead a mission to convert the pagan Anglo-Saxons of Britain to the Christian faith. Augustine was most likely living as a monk in Rome at the time. He duly arrived on these shores in AD 597: Æthelberht of Kent became the first Anglo-Saxon king to be baptised, around AD 600. He in turn imposed Christianity on Saebert of Essex and Rædwald of East Anglia. Augustine (later Saint Augustine) was recorded by Bede as really only talking to the top end of English society. Columba and Aiden were the other two recorded in Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People who were on a mission to convert Britons to Christianity. Columba was slightly earlier than Augustine but alas he only focused on Iona in Scotland. Aiden was the most effective, according to Bede, as although he set up the Lindesfarne Monastery (later to be targeted so infamously by the Vikings), he went out and about, spreading the Gospel to the common man in the street, and a great many of them. However, he was much later, around AD 634. These coins are tentatively from Kent, 620-45 AD, so it's a working theory that as Æthelberht of Kent was firmly Christian, his son, Eadbald of Kent (who, to complicate things a little, was a Christian, then reverted back to his pagan ways, but ultimately became a Christian king) would also want the Christian message spreading from beyond the royal palaces - remember, this was all a bit too early in time for Aiden, and Augustine was firmly ensconced in royal palaces only. What better way to spread the word than for a Christian cross to be emblazoned upon Saxon coinage for all the people to see - the only way really to get any kind of message to the man in the street in all four corners of the kingdom. Even if some people never handled these coins, they were possibly have heard aboyt them? This is an extremely important and significant Anglo-Saxon gold coin as well being in remarkably good grade. See the gold section

Provenance

ex Sidney & Kenneth Harl collection...

Purchased from J. Linzalone (Wolfsheet Gallery) 16th October 2013 for US $9,100

Early Anglo-Saxon Silver Sceats

WSax-9055: Early Period Anglo-Saxon Silver Sceat with Fantastic Beast. Series N, type 41b: obverse two standing figures with very uneven arms, reverse a fantastic beast or monster, pellet outlined, looking back over shoulder. Abramson 52-40, Spink 806. One of the better depictions of the monster you'll come across in this series. £395

WSax-9103: Choice Anglo-Saxon Silver Portrait Sceat. Continental issue, secondary phase, circa 710-60 AD. Series R with bust on pyramid; reverse LOLLII in a square. Old tickets here. Spink 813. These Continental issues were widely used in Southern England, showing us that trade either side of the North Sea and English Channel was prolific. Pearl grey in colour, a solid EF grade and thus choice. £475

Provenance:

ex PBJI Ancient Coins & Antiquities (sold for $750 over a decade ago)

WSax-9133: Anglo Saxon Silver Sceat. Primary phase, circa 675-760 AD, minted in various regions of South-Eastern and Southern England. Series B1. Obverse: diademed head, supposedly wearing large hoop earrings, facing right within a serpent circle; reverse: a bird atop a cross with annulets either side. Spink 777. It is interesting to note the Christian cross on the reverse. In AD 595, Pope Gregory the Great chose Augustine to lead a mission to convert the pagan Anglo-Saxons of Britain to the Christian faith. Augustine was most likely living as a monk in Rome at the time. He duly arrived on these shores in AD 597: Æthelberht of Kent became the first Anglo-Saxon king to be baptised, around AD 600. He in turn imposed Christianity on Saebert of Essex and Rædwald of East Anglia. Augustine (later Saint Augustine) was recorded by Bede as really only talking to the top end of English society. Columba and Aiden were the other two recorded in Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People who were on a mission to convert Britons to Christianity. Columba was slightly earlier than Augustine but alas he only focused on Iona in Scotland. Aiden was the most effective, according to Bede, as although he set up the Lindesfarne Monastery (later to be targeted so infamously by the Vikings), he went out and about, spreading the Gospel to the common man in the street, and a great many of them. However, he was much later, around AD 634. These early Saxon coins served three important purposes: to legitimise the king, to promote the Christian faith to the populace and to facilitate trade. I suspect that was the correct order of importance! £235

WSax-9134: Anglo Saxon Silver Sceat. Primary phase, circa 675-760 AD, minted in the central River Thames region of England. Series F, circa 700-10 AD. Obverse: crude bust, right, wearing an unusual headdress with a Christian cross behind; reverse: another cross, this time atop a couple of steps with an annulet above. Many old tickets. Spink 781. It is interesting to note the Christian cross both sides. In AD 595, Pope Gregory the Great chose Augustine to lead a mission to convert the pagan Anglo-Saxons of Britain to the Christian faith. Augustine was most likely living as a monk in Rome at the time. He duly arrived on these shores in AD 597: Æthelberht of Kent became the first Anglo-Saxon king to be baptised, around AD 600. He in turn imposed Christianity on Saebert of Essex and Rædwald of East Anglia. Augustine (later Saint Augustine) was recorded by Bede as really only talking to the top end of English society. Columba and Aiden were the other two recorded in Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People who were on a mission to convert Britons to Christianity. Columba was slightly earlier than Augustine but alas he only focused on Iona in Scotland. Aiden was the most effective, according to Bede, as although he set up the Lindesfarne Monastery (later to be targeted so infamously by the Vikings), he went out and about, spreading the Gospel to the common man in the street, and a great many of them. However, he was much later, around AD 634. These early Saxon coins served three important purposes: to legitimise the king, to promote the Christian faith to the populace and to facilitate trade. I suspect that was the correct order of importance! £495

Kings of Northumbria Saxon Coins

WSax-7842: Kings of Northumbria Saxon Silver Styca or Penny. Eanred, 810-30 (although the reign lasted until AD 841), moneyer Eadwine. Base silver regal issue, phase 1, Spink 860. A really nice example - the much rarer earlier silver variety (we are now regularly seeing base Stycas selling for well in excess of £100) and excellent grade. £395

WSax-7843: Kings of Northumbria Saxon Silver Sceatta or Penny. Eadberht, 737-58. Phase A silver regal issue, class Bi, Spink 847. A "fantastic" quadruped (currently thought to be a stylised stag), left. Rare. £465

WSax-7948: Kings of Northumbria Anglo-Saxon Styca. Late Styca coinage D - the Archiepiscopal issues: Archbishop Wigmund of York, AD 837-49/50. The moneyer is Coenred. The styca followed on from the earlier silver sceat issues during the Anglo-Saxon period, becoming increasingly debased; devolving from silver, to silver alloys, to copper alloys. An illustration as to just how powerful these clerics were lies in the gold solidus (Spink 863A), issued by Wigmund (it being the only gold coin issued in the entire Saxon period, other than the King Coenwulf gold penny and the much earlier Thrymsas), potentially as an ecclesiastical gift, at about the time of this coin. £165

WSax-8025: Kings of Northumbria Saxon Silver Styca - Regal Issue. Eanred with HVAETRED as money. base or billon silver issue. Spink 860. Total reign of Eanred 810-41 with this coin being struck very early on in that reign due to the excellent silver content. Pleasing grade with the moneyer particularly clear. £245

Middle Saxon "Hammered Silver" Issues

King Offa (757 – 796): Read about King Offa

WSax-7451: Middle Saxon OFFA PORTRAIT Hammered Silver Penny. Light coinage, c.780-96, London mint, moneyer Ciolhard, Spink 905. This Spink reference encompasses many different reverses, this one being termed a Serpent reverse – North 317. Slightly porous with a large die flaw on the obverse, chipped edge. Larger flan (17mm), VF grade and very rare. £2,995

Alfred The Great (871-899):

WSax-7819: Choice Alfred the Great Middle Saxon Hammered Silver Penny. Kings of Wessex Lunettes type, first coinage, AD 871-75. Lyons & Mackay type A but a variant thereof being IA with dies A/a. Moneyer Dunn, Canterbury mint - MON DVNN ETA. Diademed and draped bust right, +AELBRED REX. 1.22g. Spink 1057, North 625. A little unevenly toned but other than that, by far the best example I've ever seen with a good, strong no issues edges and a grade rapidly approaching EF. Find better! RESERVED

WSax-8103: Alfred the Great Middle Saxon Hammered Silver PORTRAIT Penny. Kings of Wessex Lunettes type, first coinage, AD 871-75. Lyons & Mackay type AfL 1.8 (this coin). Moneyer Rosa, probably Canterbury mint, although London was also a mint at the time for this issue - MON ROSA ETA. Diademed and draped bust right, +AELBRED REX. 1.41g. Spink 1057, North 625. Toned and completely problem-free, which in itself is a rare thing with these often crystallized, middle period coins. Long provenance - see here. About VF and rare thus. £7,795

Provenance:

ex SNC (1967 - £100)

ex Lessen collection

ex DNW (2018)

ex Mike Hallam collection

Aethelstan (825-845):

WSax-8032 (commission coin): Middle Saxon Kings of East Anglia Hammered Silver Penny. Aethelstan 1st, 825-40. Obverse and reverse small crosses, both with wedges in the angles. Obv: AEÐELSTAN RE, rev: AEÐELHELM MO. North 446/3 (unrecorded moneyer for North - only EADNOTH & MON for type, although the EMC database records three such coins, but all with pellets in the angles as opposed to wedges), Spink 951. Ipswich given tentatively as the mint town (see EMC). Completely fresh to the market, coming out of a very long-held metal detectorist's collection. The son of the finder tells me that his father rinsed his finds under cold water for literally a second and that was it. Attractively toned and very nice grade indeed. A rare opportunity to acquire an outstanding Saxon coin that has never been messed around with. £2,750 RESERVED (J.K.4-4-24 Lay-Away)

Late Saxon "Hammered Silver" Issues

Aethelred II (978-1016): Read about Aethelred II

WSax-7452: Aethelred II Late Saxon Hammered Silver Penny. B.M.C. IIIa, Crux type, c.991-97. Spink 1148. +LEOFSTAN MO HAM – Rarer Northampton mint. Of the x64 Northampton mint Aethelred II coins (all types) recorded on the EMC database, only x6 are Crux and only one Crux penny is Leofstan. A rarer mint for type and a very rare moneyer. £645

WSax-7453: Aethelred II Late Saxon Hammered Silver Penny. B.M.C. IIIa, Crux type, c.991-97. Spink 1148. +AELFPINE M-O PELIG – Rarer Wallingford mint. Of the x77 Northampton mint Aethelred II coins (all types) recorded on the EMC database, only x38 are Crux and only x4 Crux pennies are Aelfwig. Old collection toning, wavy flan. Ex Richard Basler collection. A rarer mint and a very rare moneyer for type. £645

WSax-6425: Aethelred II Hammered Silver Saxon Penny – Rarer Mint. B.M.C. IIIa. Late Saxon, 991 - 997AD. Crux type. Totnes mint town. Moneyer AELFSTAN. Spink 1148. Ex Bonham’s auction 2006. Rarer mint. £475

WSax-8042: Aethelred II Late Saxon Hammered Silver Penny. B.M.C. IVa - Voided Long Cross type (997 - 1003), +AEÐELNOÐ M`O LINC. Spink 1151. Moneyer Aethelnoth at the Lincoln mint. The Unready, or more accurately, the Unrede, deriving from the fact that Aethelred had very little council that he could rely upon from his government - he inherited the thrown upon the murder of his half-brother and was considered a weak leader virtually from the outset. This was the period where vast (and I do literally mean vast) quantities of silver coinage were paid to Viking raiders in attempt to stop them doing what Vikings did. Danegeld was the tax levied upon the populace in order to raise the "tribute" payments. Large hoards have been found in Scandinavia where the payments were taken home and deposited in the Bank-of-Mother-Earth. Peck marks on the reverse strongly indication that this was part of the Danegeld. £375

WSax-7985: Aethelred II Late Saxon Hammered Silver Penny - Rare Mint. B.M.C. IVa, voided long cross type, AD 997-1003. +AELFS TAN N MO LEIG - moneyer Aelfstan working out of the Leicester mint town. A rare mint and an even rarer moneyer with no examples of Aelfstan being recorded for Aethelred II B.M.C. IVa on the excellent EMC database. Good provenance, being ex Steve Green collection, ex A.William collection (acquired Spink, 2019), ex Spink Numismatic Circular 1997. Rare. Addendum: The reason there are no examples of this moneyer working out of Leicester on the EMC database is because he wasn't! The mint signature LEIG is for Chester, not Leicester. Guilty as charged for blindly believing what is on old tickets, even big name tickets! Thank you to Melvyn Churchill in the States for pointing it out. £675

WSax-9068: Aethelred II Late Saxon Hammered Silver Penny - Rarer Mint. B.M.C. IVa, voided long cross type, AD 997-1003. Spink 1151. +MANNA M`O EAXE - moneyer Manna working out of the Exeter mint town. A rarer mint and an even rarer moneyer with very few examples being recorded for Aethelred II B.M.C. IVa on the excellent EMC database - Wynsige and Dunstan proliferate. Good provenance - tickets here. Surface stress crack to obverse only. Rare. £550 RESERVED (J.K.20-1-25 Lay-Away)

Provenance:

ex T. Matthews, sold in 1986 to...

ex Haddenham collection, dispersed...

ex Spink

Cnut (1016-1035): Read about Cnut.

WSax-7736: Cnut Late Saxon Hammered Silver Rare Mint Penny. B.M.C. VIII - Quatrefoil type (1017-23), +EDRIC O TANTV. Spink 1157. Taunton mint. In 1014 the Danish fleet proclaimed Cnut king of England but the natives thought otherwise and he was forced to leave. Interestingly, this shows Aethelred as not a subservient and weak monarch; rather a decisive, fighting monarch. Perhaps the potential loss of his thrown was a bridge too far?! Aethelred's son, Eadmund Ironside, continued the defiance towards the Vikings but upon his death on 1016, Cnut became undisputed king of England , a position which Cnut firmly consolidated a year later by marrying Emma of Normandy, Aethelred's widow. History suggests that Emma and Cnut's marriage, though begun as a political strategy, became an affectionate affair. During their marriage, Emma and Cnut had a son, Harthacnut, and a daughter, Gunhilda. An extremely rare mint coin. Sold with old tickets (see here): ex Doubleday 6-10-87 (£370), ex Rasmusson 2017 (£1,675). A very rare coin. £2,195

WSax-6334: Cnut Late Saxon Hammered Silver Penny. B.M.C. XVI - Short cross type (1029-35/6), “+BLACAMAN O SNO”. Spink 1159. Nottingham mint. In 1014 the Danish fleet proclaimed Cnut king of England but the natives thought otherwise and he was forced to leave. Interestingly, this shows Aethelred as not a subservient and weak monarch; rather a decisive, fighting monarch. Perhaps the potential loss of his thrown was a bridge too far?! Aethelred's son, Eadmund Ironside, continued the defiance towards the Vikings but upon his death on 1016, Cnut became undisputed king of England , a position which Cnut firmly consolidated a year later by marrying Emma of Normandy, Aethelred's widow. History suggests that Emma and Cnut's marriage, though begun as a political strategy, became an affectionate affair. During their marriage, Emma and Cnut had a son, Harthacnut, and a daughter, Gunhilda. An extremely rare mint coin. Ex Cnut hoard of 1993, ex Sharp collection, ex Baldwins, ex Spink, ex Lord Stewartby collection. Sold with three tickets (two shown here). A very rare coin. £1,995

WSax-8044: Cnut Late Saxon Hammered Silver Penny. B.M.C. XVI - Voided Short Cross type (1029 - 1035/6), +ELFSIGE ON LENC. Spink 1159. Chester mint. Following on from Danegeld under Aethelred, Cnut was actually the son of King Swein of Denmark - a Viking and a Viking of some repute. In 1014 the Danish fleet proclaimed Cnut king of England but the natives thought otherwise and he was forced to leave. Interestingly, this shows Aethelred as not a subservient and weak monarch; rather a decisive, fighting monarch. Perhaps the potential loss of his thrown was a bridge too far?! Aethelred's son, Eadmund Ironside, continued the defiance towards the Vikings but upon his death on 1016, Cnut became undisputed king of England , a position which Cnut firmly consolidated a year later by marrying Emma of Normandy, Aethelred's widow. History suggests that Emma and Cnut's marriage, though begun as a political strategy, became an affectionate affair. During their marriage, Emma and Cnut had a son, Harthacnut, and a daughter, Gunhilda. I've managed to once again murder the quality of the coin through my non-existent photographic skills and complete ineptitude at using a so-called hi spec camera, so I've included a cheap camera phone image taken in not the best of lighting, which actually is much more representative. Rarer mint town. £435

Harold I (1035-1040): Read about Harold I

WSax-7739: Harold 1^st Harefoot Late Saxon Hammered Silver Penny. Jewel Cross type, B.M.C. 1, Spring 1036-38. Rarer Leicester mint. Obverse diademed bust left, +HAROLD RE; reverse jewel cross of x4 ovals, +PVLSTAN ON LEHR – moneyer Wulfstan struck at the Leicester mint. 1.08g. Spink 1163, North 802. Same dies as SCBI 18 – Copenhagen: 200. Harold wasn’t officially king in 1036 - Harold was elected regent of England following the death of his father in 1035. He initially ruled England in place of his brother Harthacnut, who was stuck in Denmark due to a rebellion in Norway. It was not until 1037 that Harold, supported by earl Leofric and many others, was officially proclaimed king. If you’re in the market for trivia, the term Harefoot is said to mean “fleet of foot”. Harold died at Oxford on 17 March 1040, just as Harthacnut was preparing an invasion force of Danes, and was buried at Westminster Abbey. His body was subsequently exhumed, beheaded, and thrown into a fen bordering the Thames when Harthacnut assumed the throne in June 1040. The Saxon kings were not ones to hide their feelings about people, even blood relatives! A rarer Midland’s mint town – it probably won’t surprise you to learn that there are only four recorded examples of this moneyer / type combination, including this coin, with two being in institutions and a third sold on the open market in 2016. The EMC / SCBI database records all four examples. GVF with original old cabinet toning. Ex York Coins (early 2000’s, ticket price $2,250, ex Leja Park Collection, Ex Spink. Tickets here. An extremely rare coin with much eye appeal. £2,195 RESERVED (J.K.31-5-24 Lay-Away)

WSax-7896: Harold 1st Late Saxon Hammered Silver Penny. Fleur-de-lis type, B.M.C. V, Spring 1038-40. London mint. Obverse armoured and diademed bust left, +HAROLD REC R; reverse voided long cross with fleur-de-lis between two pellets: +BRINTNER ON LV – moneyer Brintner struck at the London mint. 0.96g. Spink 1165. Harold was elected regent of England following the death of his father in 1035. He initially ruled England in place of his brother Harthacnut, who was stuck in Denmark due to a rebellion in Norway. It was not until 1037 that Harold, supported by earl Leofric and many others, was officially proclaimed king. If you’re in the market for trivia, the term Harefoot is said to mean “fleet of foot”. Harold died at Oxford on 17 March 1040, just as Harthacnut was preparing an invasion force of Danes, and was buried at Westminster Abbey. His body was subsequently exhumed, beheaded, and thrown into a fen bordering the Thames when Harthacnut assumed the throne in June 1040. The Saxon kings were not ones to hide their feelings about people, even blood relatives! Possibly an ex hoard coin, now beginning to re-tone. Very nice grade. £1,465

Harthacnut (1040-1042)

Edward the Confessor (1042-1066): Read about Edward The Confessor.

WSax-5502: Edward The Confessor Saxon Hammered Silver Penny. Late Saxon – pyramids type (1065-66). B.M.C. XV. Stafford - GODSPINE. Extra image added here. Very rare mint town. £1,095

WSax-8046: Edward The Confessor Late Saxon Hammered Silver Penny. B.M.C. IX - Sovereign / Eagles type (1056 - 1059), +BRVNGAR ON LVNDEF. Spink 1181. London mint, which is different to the usual York mint Sovereign / Eagles that you see. Edward was the son of Aethelred II and Emma of Norway so Cnut was Edward's step father; Cnut having sent Edward to live in Normandy under the tutelage of Emma's brother during Cnut's lifetime - some 25 years. Edward was know as "Confessor" due to his extreme piety, although the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle portrayed him not as a saint but as a strong king. Interestingly, the perhaps biased Anglo-Saxon Chronicles aside, he was remembered through history as a devout weakling; too obsessed with the matters of the spirit to cope with the real world. This was probably because his death led directly to the Conquest and to the fact that, despite being married to one of the most beautiful women in the country, he had no children by her. An interesting feature of the reverse is the coin-shaped semicircle, indicating that this coin has possibly been in contact with another coin for a lengthy period of time. +BRVNGAR ON LVNDEF is an unrecorded moneyer for B.M.C. IX on the excellent EMC database, there being only x13 coins in total recorded: x8 PACX, x2 Small Cross and x3 Pointed Helmet types. No Sovereign / Eagles type at all for this moneyer. This single coin now extends the length of time Brungar was active at the mint by further three years. A rare coin. £895

WSax-9036: Pedigreed Edward the Confessor Hammered Silver Penny. Pointed helmet type, B.M.V. VII, circa 1053-6. +GODRIC ON LEHER - Leicester mint. Spink 1179. Only x2 examples recorded on the EMC database; only one of which is GODRIC (same dies). An exceptionally rare type coin coupled with a rare mint town. Old tickets here and here. Better than VF and with an impressive provenance portfolio dating back to over 100 years ago. £1,885

Provenance

Ex Stanley Gibbons

Ex Baldwins (2011 - sold for £1,250)

Ex E.W. Danson (2005)

Ex B.W. Hunt (dispersed by Spink in 1955 for £3,10.0)

Ex Duke of Argyll collection (dispersed by Spink in 1949)

Ex E.H. Wheeler (dispersed by Seaby, 1931

Ex Major P.W.C. Carlyon-Britton (dispersed Wheeler in 1918 for £2.12.0)

Harold II (1066 only): Read about Harold II ("Last of the Saxons")

WSax-7931: Harold II Godwinson Final Anglo-Saxon Hammered Silver Penny. PAX type, B.M.C. 1: +MANPINE.ON.DOVER - Manwine as money at the Dover mint. H. Pagan "The Coinage of Harold II" p.191, North 836, Spink 1186. The money is actually a recorded moneyer but for this exact coin only, ie this is the only recorded example. The obverse depicts a unique portrait of Harold II - triple banded crown together with distinctive and better executed beard and hair. Found Peasenhall (a small village in East Suffolk) and fully recorded on the EMC database. H. Pagan in his 1990 "Studies in Late Anglo-Saxon Coinage" discusses this same coin in his The Coinage of Harold II section. It is interesting to note that there are only x4 Dover Harold II coins recorded on the database - a cut half, this one and two others. Of the other three, none have sceptres - very much a southern characteristic. And yet this coin does? Was this coin perhaps specially minted to commemorate Harold's famous victory at Stamford Bridge? Ironic if so because just three weeks later, Hastings happened. It is interesting to note that a commoner mint, together with a much less appealing portrait of Harold II has just sold through Spink for in excess of £10,000 - see link here. The famous Braintree Hoard of late Anglo-Saxon pennies was 122 in total. When Noonan's sold the hoard, there were only two Dover examples in the sale, neither of which was this rarer depiction of Harold, with final prices on those two coins at just under £12,000 and £6,500. Both were CINSTAN moneyer and both without sceptre, making this "with sceptre" example all the rarer. This coin likely a unique example at this point in time. £8,650

WMH-8998: Harold II Godwinson Norman Hammered Silver VERY RARE MINT Penny. PAX type, crowned head left with sceptre, B.M.C. 1, PAX type, Spink 1186. Harold Godwinson lasted just 10 months on the throne of England (6th January - 14th October 1066) after falling at the Battle of Hastings and effectively ending the Saxon rule of Britain. +SIDEMAN ON PAI - the Wareham mint. Warehan is in Dorset, lying on the bank of the River Frome with Poole situated just over the Wareham Channel. It was a thriving port in Saxon times and is mentioned in the Burghal Hadage. Immediately post Norman conquest, barely months later in 1067, the town was literally devastated by William 1st. It finally ceased being a mint town during the Civil War of Stephen. With zero Harold II Wareham mint examples on the EMC / SCBI database (and that is a vast National database undertaking, always growing, with entries going back 100+ years, taken from antiquarian publications such as the Catalogue of English Coins in the British Museum [my copy is 1916] etc), zero examples in the recent Braintree Hoard of x122 Harold pennies (and there were some similarly excessively rare mints contained in that hoard), we begin to see just have rare a coin this is. Going slightly further back, the Chew Valley Hoard of 2019, which is the biggest hoard of Harold II coins ever found by a country mile (1,236 coins of Harold II and 1,310 coins of William I), contained only x3 Harold II Wareham examples. This tiny amount is all the more remarkable when you consider that Wareham is really not that far south of the Chew Valley, it being just over the border in Somerset. If the Chew Valley hoard is declared Treasure by the coroner (and I honestly can't imagine for one single second that it won't be), the Roman Baths & Pump Room in Bath have expressed a strong interest in acquiring the entire hoard for their collection - Chew Valley lying close to Bath - presumably at some point to be put on display there. Bluntly, those x3 Wareham coins will never be in private ownership. Back further still, we have the 1990 publication, The Coinage of Harold II by the renowned Harold Pagan - the seminal work on Harold Godwinson of its time, and still referenced widely in numismatic circles today. In all his research, Harold Pagan could only locate a single Wareham mint example. Some 35 years on from that publication, the location of that single Wareham coin has become unknown. There are clearly no Harold II Wareham mint coins available anywhere else on the planet but a quick browse of the internet yields a William 1st Sword type penny, GODWINE of Wareham, at £5,000 (there are x34 of that monarch / mint on the EMC / SCBI database), a Stephen Watford type, ROGER of Wareham penny at £2,950 (there are x6 of that monarch / mint on the EMC / SCBI database), another William I Penny, profile left type, AEGELRIC of Wareham at £7,500 etc. In summary, Wareham is a very rare mint but for Harold II, excessively so. If you need one for your collection, you're not going to get any of the three Chew Valley examples and as we don't even know the location of Harold Pagan's lone example, that's looking equally unlikely. £8,850