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Quite a penny !!

To be honest - I'm quite surprised I have not seen this mentioned here. Perhaps it has been and I've just missed it. But on the chance it has not been mentioned - here it is - from Spink.

Even if you could never hope to own such a coin - THIS ONE is worth looking at image

Sale 4018 Lot 493

Coenwulf, King of Mercia (796-821), Gold penny or Mancus of 30 pence, 4.33g., London, diademed bust of Coenwulf right, finely drawn with four horizontal lines on the shoulders, dividing obverse legend, coenvvlf rex m (rounded) beginning at 12 o'clock, rev. de vico lvndoniae around rosette developed from a cross over a cross moline, no inner circles, initial cross of four wedges with centre pellet on both sides (MEC -; N -; S -), a magnificent coin of superb workmanship, save for a minute scratch in the field before face, in mint state on a full round carefully prepared flan, with an attractive golden tone and red highlights, of the greatest historical importance, unique

To see the pics just do a search of the current auction - English hammered gold.

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Comments

  • Couldn't find the diameter mentioned anywhere, but from the weight I'm guessing it's about U.S. nickle-size.

    I can't help wondering, however, if it might not be a hoax along the lines of some of the "early man" skeletons that have been found, and ultimately de-bunked. Found with a metal detector along a river footpath?
    Roy


    image
  • Possible of course - but I rather doubt it. If there was any question about authenticity I don't think Spink would hang their hat out for 150,000 pounds.
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  • MacCrimmonMacCrimmon Posts: 7,051 ✭✭✭
    image Maybe it was made in Eureka Springs, AR!! image

    Looks awful nice, eh!!???

    I also seriously doubt that it's fake.....but, if I had 150K quid, I would rather get very cozy with Vicky instead... image
  • 1jester1jester Posts: 8,638 ✭✭✭
    Sorry, I simply couldn't find the coin (or any coin for that matter).

    imageimageimage
    .....GOD
    image

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  • somewhere out there, an ebay bidder is hoping to get it for a dollar!
  • CoulportCoulport Posts: 1,087 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Sorry, I simply couldn't find the coin (or any coin for that matter). >>



    Took me two tries.
    You have two fields to work. The first requires the appropriate sale and the second the lot.
    The most money I made are on coins I haven't sold.

    Got quoins?
  • I'd rather have an Henry III gold penny...
  • farthingfarthing Posts: 3,294 ✭✭✭
    I remember reading about the find when it was announced. The dream of every amateur medal detectorist! image
    R.I.P. Wayne, Brad
    Collecting:
    Conder tokens
    19th & 20th Century coins from Great Britain and the Realm
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,194 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What, posting a picture or a direct link to the page won't work? Guess we're about to find out.

    image

    Very cool. Wish they'd used some paragraphing on that description, though- it's hard to read, the way it's all run together.

    Hope I never find anything like that with my detector, 'cause it'd be the last thing I found. If I didn't die from the shock of the find, I'd figure "well, I'll never find anything of this caliber again, so I quit!". image


    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.


  • << <i>What, posting a picture or a direct link to the page won't work? Guess we're about to find out. >>



    Nope it won't - already tried that image

    As for posting the pic - well I knew you'd come along sooner or later image

    Thanks for the help there Rob image
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  • AethelredAethelred Posts: 9,288 ✭✭✭
    Very interesting! I'll have more comments later, but that is quite a coin.

    BTW - The following was recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles about our dear Coenwulf:

    AD 798 - "Coenwulf, king of Mercia, ravaged the Kentish people. Their king Praen was taken, and they led him bound into Mercia and had his eyes put out and his hands cut off."
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  • spoonspoon Posts: 2,798 ✭✭✭
    Auction ended. This coin set a new record for British coins!
    (Always cool to see coin stories pop up on My Yahoo image )


    1,200-Year-Old Coin Goes for $409,000

    LONDON - A 1,200-year-old Anglo-Saxon penny sold for $409,000 Wednesday, setting what the auction house said was a new world record for the most expensive British coin.

    Spink auction house had expected the 0.15-ounce gold coin to fetch between $214,000 and $267,000.

    American collector Allan Davisson purchased the coin, which was found in 2001 by an amateur searcher using a metal detector near the River Ivel in Bedfordshire, north of London.

    It is the only known coin to bear the name of King Coenwulf of Mercia, who ruled a region of southern England from 796 to 821.

    The previous auction record for a British coin was a gold piece bearing an image of George III's crown, which sold for $303,000 in 1999, Spink said.
  • Who gets the money, the finder or did he have to turn over to government?
  • spoonspoon Posts: 2,798 ✭✭✭
    Don't know for sure. I thought the UK lets the finder keep the money up to a certain and quite respectable point and pockets the rest.. but I could be wrong. Wish the article would've mentioned that..
  • MacCrimmonMacCrimmon Posts: 7,051 ✭✭✭
    image On second thought, that coin just looks like it would be easy to fake for a skilled engraver.
  • farthingfarthing Posts: 3,294 ✭✭✭
    I wonder if Allen is keeping the coin or was representing the buyer??? He has been buying and selling hammered English gold for a number of years.

    I wonder if he will have it for display at the local show this month?
    R.I.P. Wayne, Brad
    Collecting:
    Conder tokens
    19th & 20th Century coins from Great Britain and the Realm
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