`Saxon Coins

-------->Remember, postage is included<--------

 

**Extra images now added**

 

 

Early Anglo-Saxon Gold Coins

 

WAu-7762:  **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.  £3,150 RESERVED

 

WAu-7845:  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.  An extremely important and significant Anglo-Saxon gold coin.  £5,495 RESERVED

 

 

 

Early Anglo-Saxon Silver Sceats

 

 

 

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-7984:  Choice, High Grade Anglo-Saxon Silver Sceatta.  Regal issue, Eadberht, 737-58.  York mint.  Obv: E◊TBERHTVΓ around a central small cross pattee, rev: Stylised quadreped (stag), left.  Chapman 48 (same dies), North 178, Spink 847.  Lightly toned and EF rather than the ascribed GVF on the accompanying ticket.  An outstanding example of this desirable and iconic Saxon silver coin.  Find better!  £695

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Late Saxon "Hammered Silver" Issues

 

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

 

WSax-8002:  Aethelred II Anglo-Saxon Hammered Silver Penny.  Last small cross type, B.M.C.1, circa 1009-17.  Diademed bust left, EŠELRAED REX ANGL RX.  Reverse (very) short cross, +CYNNA ON PINCSTR - Cynna as moneyer at the Winchester mint.  Cynna is a rarer moneyer.  Spink 1154.  Deeply toned with a few minor peck marks.  £495

Ex Unidentified old dealer's ticket

Ex DNW (2019, sold to...)

Ex Steve Green collection - his ticket

 

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-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-7987:  Aethelred II Late Saxon Hammered Silver Penny - Rarer Mint.  B.M.C. IVa, voided long cross type, AD 997-1003.  +AEL FRIC MO N VNT - moneyer Aelfric working out of the Huntingdon mint town.  Good provenance, being ex Steve Green collection, ex Dr J. Hulett (acquired DNW 2017).  Rare.  £495

 

 

 

Cnut (1016-1035): Read about Cnut.

 

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.  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-7736:  Cnut Late Saxon Hammered Silver Rare Mint Penny.  B.M.C. VIII - Quatrefoil type (1017-23), +EDRIC O TANTV.  Spink 1157.  Taunton mint.  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

 

 

 

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

 

WSax-7739:  Harold 1st 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

 

WSax-7792:  Harold Harefoot 1st Hammered Silver Late Saxon Penny.  Voided long cross with fleur-de-lis in the angles: B.M.C. V, circa 1038-40.  Colchester mint.  Obverse diademed bust left, +HAR: OLD RE; reverse: +GODRIC ON CONC.  0.99g.  Spink 1165, North 803.  Ex Mike Vosper.  Attractively toned, small surface stress mark, VF grade.  A good eye-appeal coin.  Rare.  £1,685

 

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-6969:  Edward The Confessor Saxon Hammered Silver Penny.  Late Saxon – small flan type (1048-50).  B.M.C. II.  Sandwich mint - LIFPINE.  Very rare mint town.  The obverse mark by the king’s face is a difference in height of the silver and the reverse stress mark is surface only.  This was clearly not a good blank that they used.  £635 RESERVED (T.C.25-9-23 Lay-Away)

 

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-7974:  Edward the Confessor Hammered Silver Saxon Penny.  Pointed helmet type, B.M.C. VII, c.1053-6 only.  +STIRCOL ON EOFER - York mint.  Spink 1179.  An outstanding well struck example, being the best I've ever handled, slightly impaired by the ragged flan.  Easily a four figure coin otherwise.  £765 RESERVED (M.He.13-1-24 Lay-Away)

 

 

 

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