Eadred Penny, Two line type, Hunred, ex Schraeder and Courti collections

Eadred (946-953), silver Penny, moneyer Hunred, two line type, small cross pattée, circles and legend surrounding, + EADRED REXC, rev. three cross pattées across centre, moneyer name in two lines, trio of pellets above and below, HVNR / ED MO, weight 1.35g (S.C.B.I. 34;570; N.706; S.1113). Toned, a bold very fine, seemingly with an extra C after REX, unusual.

Born around 922, Eadred succeed his murdered elder brother in May 946 aged around 22, he was afflicted by a chronic stomach condition giving him great difficulty in swallowing food. Despite this affliction he was a competent warrior and his first action was to march north and quell Archbishop Wulfstan of York and other magnates into submission. This did not last long and King of Dublin Olaf Sihtricsson was again invited back to take York, later coming to terms with Eadred as long as he kept Eric Bloodaxe away. However Archbishop Wulfstan supported Eric Bloodaxe arriving in 952, and Eadred was compelled to march north, culminating in the death of Eric in 954 at the Battle of Stainmore, thus permanently reuniting the Kingdom of England. Eadred died on the 23^rd November 955 in Frome Somerset aged around 33 and was succeeded by his nephew Eadwig.

Provenance:

Ex Rose Schraeder Collection, CNG Auction 78, USA, 14^th May 2008, lot 2139.

Ex Dr Eduardo Courti, Kunker Auction 227, Germany, March 2013, lot 2348.

Ex A H Baldwin, Fixed Price List Summer 2013, item AS018.