An Edward the Martyr Penny

BillJones

The coin finally arrived yesterday, and it's what I expected it to be. The preservation is good, but the lettering is not perfect. PCGS graded it AU-55.

Here are the contents of my notebook.

Edward the Martyr Penny, S-1142, Obverse: EADVVARD REX ANGLO “Edward king of England” Reverse: +EANVLF M-O LINDEOLE Eanulf (moneyer) Lincoln Mint. Weight 1.21 gr. A rare coin for a king who ruled for only three years.

Edward was the son of Edger. His mother was married to Edger before Edger married Elfrida. He was 13 when he became king, which was a bad age. He was too young and inexperienced to know how to be a king, and yet old enough to give orders. He did not listen to his advisors and was known for having temper tantrums.

Edward was unwilling or unable to run the country. There was a widespread famine and civil unrest ensued. Monasteries were sacked, and there was in breakdown in the rule of law.

A building collapse at a royal council meeting at Caine in Wiltshire in early 978 further complicated matters. Dunstan, an important cleric at the time, survived.

On March 18, 978 Edward paid a visit to his step mother, Elfrida. Although she welcomed Edward with a cup of mead upon his arrival, she or one of her attendants murdered him. Evidence suggests that Elfrida, the mother of the next king, Æthelred II, had him killed.

Edward was quickly buried at Wareham.

Not long after his burial, miracles began to occur in connection with his body. He was later reburied at Shaftesbury and sanctified as “Edward the

BSmith

Congrats, that's really nice.

UpGrayedd

@BillJones said:

Not long after his burial, miracles began to occur in connection with his body. He was later reburied at Shaftesbury and sanctified as “Edward the

@BillJones I am glad the coin arrived and I always enjoy your posts, but the suspense is killing me. "He was later reburied at Shaftesbury and sanctified as 'Edward the'". As Edward the what?

Nap

Nice coin.

Edward the Martyr is a tough one, due to the brevity of his reign.

The “evil stepmother” trope is strong with this story. The history is more believable than the hagiography. Edward’s death was almost certainly planned by a significant faction of dissatisfied nobles. Aelfthryth, mother of Aethelred, and stepmother to Edward, might have been involved in the plot, and certainly would benefit as her son was next in line, but it is doubtful that she alone orchestrated the murder. Edward was buried without royal honors, suggesting a significant faction opposed to his legitimacy. It was only later when he was venerated that all the colorful additions were made to the story.

Here is mine-

UpGrayedd

@UpGrayedd said:

@BillJones said:

Not long after his burial, miracles began to occur in connection with his body. He was later reburied at Shaftesbury and sanctified as “Edward the

@BillJones I am glad the coin arrived and I always enjoy your posts, but the suspense is killing me. "He was later reburied at Shaftesbury and sanctified as 'Edward the'". As Edward the what?

I'm guessing as Edward the Martyr, or is there more to the story?

EVillageProwler

Ex-Stewartby:

BillJones

@UpGrayedd said:

@BillJones said:

Not long after his burial, miracles began to occur in connection with his body. He was later reburied at Shaftesbury and sanctified as “Edward the

@BillJones I am glad the coin arrived and I always enjoy your posts, but the suspense is killing me. "He was later reburied at Shaftesbury and sanctified as 'Edward the'". As Edward the what?

Whoops! I guess I clipped my copy and paste. The last word is “martyr.” He didn’t rate becoming a saint. The only British king who got that distinction was Edward the Confessor.

asheland

Awesome addition!