Eadred, Penny, two-line type, moneyer Leofric

Eadred (946-953), silver Penny, moneyer Leofric, two-line type, small cross pattée, circles and legend surrounding, + EADRED REX, rev. three cross pattées across centre, moneyer name in two lines, trio of pellets above and below, LEOF +/RIC MO, weight 1.56g (BMC I, 64; CTCE 46; SCBI 34:531 British Museum; N.706; S.1113). Toned, rim a perforated in places, otherwise good very fine, unusual with the extra cross in the Moneyer name on reverse.

The Coinage of Tenth Century England by Blunt, Stewart and Lyon gives this coin as Horizontal type I for Midlands and South, moneyer Leofric as number 46.

Born around 922, Eadred succeeded 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.

The legends translate on obverse as "Eadred King" and reverse "Leofric Moneyer".

Provenance:

Ex A H Baldwin, Fixed Price List Winter 2013, item AS017.

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