Aethelred II, Penny, large CRVX type, Southampton Mint, moneyer Isegel

Aethelred II (978-1016), silver Penny, large CRVX type (c.991-997), Southampton Mint, Moneyer Isegel, draped bust left with sceptre, linear circle and legend surrounding, commences at top, +ÆÐELRED REX ANGLORV ligatured, rev. voided cross within linear circle, CRVX letters in consecutive angles, +ISCGEL M-O HAIIPI, weight 1.73g (BMC III, p.200; BEH 677 as Harwich; SCBI 7:413 Copenhagen; N.770; S.1148). Toned, one hairline surface crack on obverse showing partly through on reverse, otherwise a bold to good very fine and a rare mint.

North lists 73 named mints in operation during the reign of Aethelred II with a further 14 unallocated. According to North Southampton operates with seven moneyers across all types except first small cross, long cross and helmet.

Though Aethelred enjoyed such a long reign he was known as "The Unready" literally meaning ill-counselled from a history of bad advice and decision making. Born circa 967 Aethelred was supported by his mother and partisans that were led by Earl Aelfhere of Mercia; ascending the throne at no more than 12 years of age after the murder of his Half-Brother Edward at Corfe. The influential Aelfhere having died in 983 meant Aethelred became more vulnerable, and the Vikings began to start their raids once again. Aethelred chose to pay off the raiders rather than resist, becoming known for giving such ransoms payments willingly. This meant many hundreds of thousands of coins ended up being taken to Scandanavia where they were hoarded and why much of the coinage that survives today often exhibits "peck marks" where the Viking bankers have inserted a knife point to make sure the metal quality was good. The harrying continued until Swein Forkebeard held a great swathe of England by 1013, and Aethelred was under threat in London retreating to the Isle of Wight. England submitted to Swein but he died suddenly on the 2^nd February 1014 at Gainsborough giving Aethelred the advantage and driving the Vikings out. Canute the second son of Swein, returned to attack in 1015 and by early 1016 was marching on Mercia, Aethelred however passed away on 23^rd April 1016 in London at around the age of 52 just as his second son Edmund was moving south to link up with the army. Edmund was elected King, but the army was his priority, and after winning a few battles suffered a defeat at Ashingdon on 18^th October 1016. He retreated possibly wounded to West Mercia and negotiated a treaty giving him rule of Wessex. However, Edmund died in Oxford on the 30^th November 1016 giving control to Canute.

The port of Southampton lies just over ten miles south of Winchester on a peninsular formed by the Rivers Test and Itchen. It was twice plundered by the Danes in 842 and 980 respectively, and they wintered there in 994 which falls into the window of time when this coin was thought to be struck.

The legends translate as "Aethelred King of the English" on obverse and "Isegel of Southampton" on the reverse, the letters around the central cross mean "cross."

Provenance:

Ex Collection of an English Doctor, part one, Sovereign Rarities, London, March 2022.