Danish East Anglia, St Edmund Coinage, Penny, Aethelberht

Anglo-Viking, Danish East Anglia (c.885-915), St Edmund, Memorial Coinage, silver Penny, moneyer Aethelberht, large A at centre, tiny pellet either side, within linear circle, legend and outer linear circle surrounding, +SC EADMVNIE, the S supine, rev. cross at centre within linear circle, legend and outer linear circle surrounding, +AOALBERTNIE, weight 1.34g (BMC 132/131; N.483; S.961). One hairline flan crack into legend, attractively toned, one flat spot in legend at corresponding points both sides, otherwise good very fine.

Following the Treaty of Wedmore in 880 the Viking invaders were granted lands to the east of Watling Street with coinage for circulation following soon after at first imitating the Wessex types of Alfred. Independent coinages followed for East Anglia like this piece, the East Midlands and Northumbria. The St Edmund coinage could have been issued or encouraged by the Christianised warlord Guthrum who took control from circa 880 and was a follower of the cult of Saint Edmund based upon the earlier heroic sacrifice of King Eadmund of East Anglia (855-870).

The obverse legend translates as "Saint Edmund" and the reverse "Aethelberht"

Provenance:

Ex Dr John Tooze Collection, Dix Noonan and Webb, Auction 163, 19^th September 2019, lot 1011.

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