Aethelred II, Penny, long cross type, Bath Mint, moneyer Aelfric

Aethelred II (978-1016), silver long cross Penny (c.997-1003), Bath Mint, Moneyer Aelfric, draped bust left, legend and beaded outer border surrounding both sides, legend commences lower left, +ÆÐELRÆD REX ANGLO'I, rev. long voided cross with tri-crescent ends, +ÆL FRIC MΩO BAÐ, weight 1.87g (BMC IV, 7; BEH 20; SCBI 7:14 Copenhagen; N.774; S.1151). Toned, a couple of peck marks on reverse, otherwise almost extremely fine and rare.

North lists 73 named mints in operation during the reign of Aethelred II with a further 14 unallocated. Bath operates with eight moneyers in all types except first small cross at the start and last small cross at the end.

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 old Roman City of Bath some 12 miles from Bristol was rebuilt by Alfred the Great after expulsion of the Danes and was part of the Burghal Hidage. King Eadgar was coronated there in 973 and in 1013 the Danish Swein went to Bath to receive submission from the western thegns. Bath was destroyed in 1088 in a rising orchestrated by Robert de Mowbray. It later became an episcopal seat in place of Wells in 1090 and William II granted the mint to the Bishop.

The legends translate as "Aethelred, King of the English" and "Aelfric moneyer of Bath."

Provenance:

Ex Dr Erik Miller Collection, part II, Spink Coin Auction, 27^th March 2019, lot 53.

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