Edward the Confessor Sovereign Eagles type Penny, Northampton, Aelfwine

Edward the Confessor (1042-66), silver Penny, Sovereign / Eagles type (1056-59), Northampton Mint, Moneyer Aelfwine, King seated on throne with head turned to right, holding orb and long handled sceptre, Latin legend surrounding, commences upper right, EADPARD REX ANGL:., rev. short voided cross, eagle or raven in each angle, linear circles and Latin legend surrounding, +ÆLFPINE ON HAM, weight 1.31g (Freeman 7; BNJ XIX plate IV:5 this coin; N.827; S.1181). Toned, good very fine and very rare with no examples listed in the sylloge volumes.

The Latin legends translate as "Edward King of the English" on obverse and "Aelfwine of Hampton" on the reverse.

This coin illustrated in "The Southampton and Northampton Mints" by W. C. Wells, British Numismatic Journal volume XIX (1927-28), plate IV number 5.

Northampton is a town on the River Nene 29 miles east of Warwick in the Midlands. The Danes wintered there in the year 917 and subsequently submitted without a fight to Edward the Elder who later built a fort on the south bank of the river. The Viking Anlaf besieged the town unsuccessfully in 941, but the town was later burnt in 1010 by the Danes, and was later seized by the York army in 1065. William the Conqueror built a castle there in 1068 and later Earl Simon of Northampton was a supporter of King Stephen fighting for him at the battle of Lincoln. The castle was besieged for two weeks by the insurgent Barons in 1215.

Provenance:

Ex W. C. Wells collection, portion purchased by A. H. Baldwin 1949.

Ex A. H. Baldwin, historic basement stock, Baldwin of St James Auction 5, 15th May 2017, lot 1062