Code: 12576
This is an Anglo-Saxon silver penny of King Æthelred II, minted in London by the moneyer Ethelric.
Obverse +ÆĐELRÆD REX REX A (Aethelred king of the English) helmeted armoured bust left with radiate stylised helmet,
Reverse +ETHELRIC MO LVN. (Ethelric Moneyer of London) voided long cross over trefoil-tipped quatrefoil legend.
This coin has peck marks and a centre crack from circulation, also being pierced for use as a pendant amulet indicative of use in Viking-held territory! Vast quantities of these pennies were minted to pay off the Vikings in Danegeld. This would have been one of those coins, minted in England but found in Estonia, as such it would have sailed to Iceland, Norway or Denmark on Viking Longships before being dolled out as payment to warriors and their families, being pierced and worn as jewellery as proof of exploits and adventure to England! I expect this little coin has an interesting story to tell.
DENOMINATION: Penny
CULTURE: Saxon England
DATE: 978 - 1013 A.D. (this issue between 1003 - 1009 AD)
MATERIAL: Silver
SIZE: 19mm dia
WEIGHT: 1.30 grams
ATTRIBUTION: (S.1152; N.775; BMC VIII; SCBI 7 (Copenhagen), 933)
PROVENANCE: Formerly in a private collection in Tallinn, Estonia
