Archbishop of Canterbury, Jaenberht Penny

Jaenberht, Archbishop of Canterbury (765-792), with Offa of Mercia as Overlord (c.780-792), silver Penny, Celtic style cross with OF F A X in angles, rev. three line inscription between ruled lines with cross botonnee ends, IEB / RHT A / REP, weight 0.91 (Chick type 151b this coin; Blunt 132; N.225; S.883). Toned, chipped otherwise very fine for issue, extremely rare, Chick only records two examples.

Jaenberht held the official title of archbishop of Canterbury between 765-792, he was an ecclesiastical Kentishman with close connections if not formal associations with King Ecgberht II. Jaenberht was abbot of St Augustine's in Canterbury, on the 25th February 765 consecrated as archbishop at the court of King Offa of Mercia. Offa's Overlordship was consistently resented in Kent (or at least this an accepted theme historically) leading to an overthrow, albeit temporarily by a Kentish rising of 776, culminating in a Mercian defeat at the battle of Otford.

in 785 Offa managed to re-assert general control, Jaenberht proved a staunch upholder of Kentish independence, two years later in 787, Offa's envoys persuaded Pope Hadrian I to elevate the Mercian Bishopric of Lichfield to a archiepiscopal standard, Hygenerht became archbishop of Lichfield - essentially a rival to Jaenberht. The archbishopric at Lichfield was abolished after Offa's death, and was no longer an archdiocese by 803.

Ultimately, the general consensus tells us that Jaenberht and Offa conflicted on several matters; the usual discrepancy of to whom land belonged, where both of course claimed territory as their own, confiscated and regained lands were a common occurrence as a direct result. Jaenberht also refused to crown Offa's son Egcfrith, along with rumours involving Charlemagne, both allegations and counter allegations to the archbishop and King were in full flow, most of which now are considered unfounded.

He died on 12 August 792, buried in the abbey church of St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury. Considered a saint, subject to hagiography and in turn a feast day of 12 August.

Provenance:

Photograph of this coin without provenance in the Derek Chick archive as of 2000 reproduced in plates of The Coinage of Offa and his Contemporaries.