Eadgar Penny, two line type, North Eastern Albutc, ex Tetney Hoard, Collection of an English Doctor

Eadgar (959-973), silver Penny, two-line type, North-Eastern horizontal type V, moneyer Albutc, small cross pattée, circles and legend surrounding, + EADG.A.R RE, crescent at end of legend, rev. three cross pattées across centre, moneyer name in two lines, triangle of pellets above and below, ALBY /TC MO, contraction mark over M, weight 1.27g (BMC I, 71; CTCE 24; SCBI 2:680 Hunterian; N.741; S.1129). Toned, good very fine.

The Coinage of Tenth Century England by Blunt, Stewart and Lyon gives this coin as Horizontal type 5 North-Eastern style, moneyer Albutc as number 24.

Probably born in 943, Eadgar was only around 16 when he inherited the Kingdom from older brother Eadwig, having already ruled Mercia since the age of 14. Eadgar was known as "The Peaceable" on account of his 16 years reign being relatively free of any conflict or revolt, perhaps reflecting his military prowess and naval power from his capital at Winchester. He enjoyed a second Coronation in 973 in the Roman ruins of Bath, having already had his first at Kingston after his accession, in order to associate himself with past glories and with Charlemagne who had had his Coronation in Rome in 800. Eadgar was married three times, having a son Edward with his first wife, a daughter Edith with the second, and two sons with the third, Edmund and Aethelred. Eadgar died unexpectedly at Winchester aged around 32 on the 8^th July 975.

The legends translate on obverse as "Eadgar King" and reverse "Albutc Moneyer".

Provenance:

Ex Tetney Hoard, north-east Lincolnshire, found May 1945.

Purchased from A. H. Baldwin 2019.

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