PREVIEW: COINS AND HISTORICAL MEDALS: 19 NOVEMBER

Several coins from the mid to late Anglo Saxon period form highlights in this auction, together illustrating some of the competing forces influencing the formation of England as a single kingdom.

The earliest of the four lots dates the reign of Beornwulf (823-826), killed during the East Anglian rebellion of 826 after earlier defeats at the hands of Wessex. This marked the end of the Mercian Supremacy.

 

Coins of Beornwulf are rare but a significant number of finds have been made in recent years. The Penny offered here is from East Anglia, and the moneyer Eadnoth, but the mint is uncertain. With a small edge repair, but otherwise very fine, and very rare, the estimate is £2,000-2,600.

A Phase III Penny of the Danelaw, St Peter Coinage, c.921-27, comes from the period when Pagan and Christian beliefs were merging. Numerous die variants were crated, this one being of the Sword/Mallet type. With minute perforations along the inner circle, it is otherwise full, round and well struck up. A good very fine and rare coin, it is pitched at £4,000-5,000.

Almost a century later, England was ruled by the Cnut (1016-1035), who also became king of Denmark in 1018 and Norway in 1028. The Penny offered here is of the Short Cross type, struck by Godwine Ceoca of Winchester. It shows a trace of double-strike, but is otherwise better than very fine and extremely rare. It carries hopes of £2,000-2,600.

The brief reign of Harold II (1066) marked the end of the Anglo Saxon era and the dawning of a new age following the Conquest and the introduction of Norman rule. The brevity of his reign limited the extent of the coinage, but the recent Braintree Hoard find has shed important light on the dispersal of mints striking Harold II coinage. The 122 coins in the hoard sold out at Noonans on 21 February 2024 for almost double the high estimate at £325,560.

Here a PAX type Penny with Sceptre, struck by Eadwine in London is better than very fine with light grey toning and a strong portrait. The estimate is £5,000-6,000.