Newp: the prize of my Anglo-Saxon collection

EVillageProwler

I'm just going to post the (seller's) picture here, and let the audience try for a bit to determine what this coin actually is. It's one I've wanted for a very long time, graded aEF/EF by the seller, and whose portrait should be revered by every Anglophile historian.

I paid a kingly sum for this coin, spread out over several months, and this piece is quite handsome in hand. Seriously, folks, this is what coin collecting is all about: like every American kid wanting a nice SVDB or a Morgan buff wanting a nice 93-S.



Edited to add that I replaced the original picture with a new one.

BS

Congrats, that's an amazing coin.

Zohar

I love the coin and the passion!

Please do expand on the history and importance of the piece in this context.

EVillageProwler

BS - thanks for the nice words, and thanks for directing me to its attention 7 months ago.



<< <i>I love the coin and the passion!

Please do expand on the history and importance of the piece in this context. >>



Zohar - c'mon, I've given clues already. Someone, besides BS and RobP, should come up at least with who is the monarch. Let's give the folks some time...

EVP

CIVITAS

<< <i>BS - thanks for the nice words, and thanks for directing me to its attention 7 months ago.



<< <i>I love the coin and the passion!

Please do expand on the history and importance of the piece in this context. >>



Zohar - c'mon, I've given clues already. Someone, besides BS and RobP, should come up at least with who is the monarch. Let's give the folks some time...

EVP >>



His name's on the front of the coin so I should hope so.

Aethelred

Awesome coin and a VERY important king, just don't let him tend your loaves if you are cooking.

SmEagle1795

This isn't my area (or even my millennium), but it looks like the obverse says Aelfred (presumably Aelfred the Great)? I also assume Aelfred would be properly spelled Ælfred.

crypto79

I am just surprised you bought an EF I have bed time duties but I will get my google on and see if I can did up something as I am now curious

EVillageProwler

<< <i>Awesome coin and a VERY important king, just don't let him tend your loaves if you are cooking. >>



Just a tad important. I was reading an article recently on royal names, and it struck me as disappointing that this royal name isn't considered a likely choice by William and Kate. In fact, the only Anglo-Saxon name considered a possibility is Edward.

Josh - I wouldn't think this to be difficult for most world coin dealers.

EVP

MacCrimmon

Looks to be the Mercian king, Burgred.

STLNATS

Looks like Alfred the Great to me too, but also out of my area. Neat piece in any case....

EVillageProwler

Yes, the monarch is Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, S-1057A. The obverse legend is AELBRED/REX. This differs from the S-1057 by virtue of the lunette: S-1057A is stylized after Burgred of Mercia (gold star to MacCrimmon!).

Around the 4th Century CE, the Roman Empire was in terminal decline. They had started to withdraw their soldiers from Britain, leaving the island's Celtic and remaining Roman population defenseless from raiders from Scandinavia and northern Europe. The suffering population invited two groups of the raiders, the Angles and the Saxons, to settle in Britain hoping that that would stop the raiding. The new Anglo-Saxon arrivals formed their own kingdoms in Britain known collectively as the Heptarchy (although their were more than seven kingdoms if one were to count all the small ones and sub-kingdoms). In time, western Europe would suffer from renewed raiding by the Vikings of Norway and Denmark.

Early in the days of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Northumbria was pre-eminent in power, culture and prestige. By the 8th Century, that kingdom was in terminal decline due to in-fighting and civil war. In the 9th Century, the Vikings invaded and conquered Northumbria, with the remaining kingdoms falling one by one to the Vikings. The last Anglo-Saxon kingdom standing was Wessex, whose king Alfred was able to stop the advances and eventually push back the Vikings through a careful combination of military confrontation and tribute payments. Eventually, Eadgar (great grandson of Alfred) was proclaimed King of All England in 959.

Not only did King Alfred save his people from conquest, he also encouraged literacy and the arts amongst his people. He also commissioned the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. He is the only British monarch officially to have the title "the Great" (although historians would argue that Elizabeth I and KGVI were also pretty great in their own right).

I have wanted a nice Alfred penny for a very long time. A US dealer in 2012 had a very nice non-portrait piece that was reasonably priced, but I was unable to execute on it because it was the wrong time for me financially. This acquisition has erased that prior regret.

From the seller:
LONDON, Lunettes coinage (871-c.877). +DMON/BIARNRE/ETE . Lyons and MacKay (BNJ 2008) recorded 33 examples of this type with 4 noted for Biarnred out of 197 surviving Alfred lunettes pennies.
Ex:- Croydon Hoard, 1862, listed by Blunt and Dolly 1959; Marsham Townsend, Sotheby November 19th 1888; Carlyon Britton, Sotheby November 17th 1913; SNC March 1914; SNC March 1916; SNC July 1921; H.A.Parsons Glens 11-13 May 1954; Morrison aquired 1984.

MrEureka

Congrats!

WorldTypeSet

Very nice ... now, when do we get to see the whole collection?

EVillageProwler

Andy - thanks!



<< <i>Very nice ... now, when do we get to see the whole collection? >>



Paul - too early. It needs to grow a bit more first. I only acquired my first piece (ETC, S-1182) in late 2011. It's hard finding really nice pieces that's not A2, Cnut or ETC.

EVP

TwoKopeiki

That's quite an addition, EVP! Glad you were able to add it to your collection.

brg5658

<< <i>
From the seller:
LONDON, Lunettes coinage (871-c.877). +DMON/BIARNRE/ETE . Lyons and MacKay (BNJ 2008) recorded 33 examples of this type with 4 noted for Biarnred out of 197 surviving Alfred lunettes pennies.
Ex:- Croydon Hoard, 1862, listed by Blunt and Dolly 1959; Marsham Townsend, Sotheby November 19th 1888; Carlyon Britton, Sotheby November 17th 1913; SNC March 1914; SNC March 1916; SNC July 1921; H.A.Parsons Glens 11-13 May 1954; Morrison aquired 1984. >>




Just wondering about the "ETE" part. My eye sees "ETA" not "ETE".

I really like the looks of this coin. Amazing piece for being over 1100 years old!

EVillageProwler

Yes, I think the reverse says "BIARNRED MONETA" written awkwardly across three lines.

EVP

asp

That's a very impressive coin.
Congratulations on your acquisition.

EVillageProwler

Thanks, 2K, ASP, et al. I'm quite beside myself with joy.

BTW, here is my Burgred of Mercia (S-938) for comparison to the Alfred S-1057A:



My Burgred is graded by a US TPG, in high grade. But, it is not rare to find it in such condition because coins from his reign have been found in several hoards.

EVP

MilkmanDan

EVP, I always enjoy the history lessons in your threads and love how many of us collect coins for the history surrounding them. Awesome coin, congrats.

EVillageProwler

<< <i>EVP, I always enjoy the history lessons in your threads and love how many of us collect coins for the history surrounding them. Awesome coin, congrats. >>



Aww, shucks. Thanks. Like what Joanie said to Potsie, I'm a coin/history dren.

EVP

MadMuffin

An excellent and rare coin - congratulations! I am fighting an urge to start collecting these early pennies myself as I already have a growing English collection (mostly 1800 to present, though). This thread has not made it easier for me

These coins have so many stories to tell, and when you think of it, the British penny must be one of the longest living denominations ever. From the 700s if I remember correctly and to the present. What a type collection that could be...

Marcel

EVillageProwler

Marcel,

You should not endeavor on this road, unless you choose your path judiciously or are comfortable never finishing your journey.

This series is fraught with extreme rarities, even in any condition. And, many pieces are beyond the finances of the majority of collectors. Even in low grade.

If the above is not enough, let me unabashedly say that I don't need the competition.

EVP

RobP

<< <i>Marcel,

You should not endeavor on this road, unless you choose your path judiciously or are comfortable never finishing your journey.

This series is fraught with extreme rarities, even in any condition. And, many pieces are beyond the finances of the majority of collectors. Even in low grade.

If the above is not enough, let me unabashedly say that I don't need the competition.

EVP >>



I concur with all the above. The competition has always, is and will always be fierce for some of the earlier pieces. Usually it is a case of right place, right time. Some simply aren't available with all known examples in museums. All said, there are still enough to go around as long as you are prepared to accept the inherent difficulties and buy lower grade pieces when the options are limited. You are likely to run out of funds long before you can even contemplate completion. Something which applies whatever you collect.

EVillageProwler

<< <i>

<< <i>Marcel,

You should not endeavor on this road, unless you choose your path judiciously or are comfortable never finishing your journey.

This series is fraught with extreme rarities, even in any condition. And, many pieces are beyond the finances of the majority of collectors. Even in low grade.

If the above is not enough, let me unabashedly say that I don't need the competition.

EVP >>



I concur with all the above. The competition has always, is and will always be fierce for some of the earlier pieces. Usually it is a case of right place, right time. Some simply aren't available with all known examples in museums. All said, there are still enough to go around as long as you are prepared to accept the inherent difficulties and buy lower grade pieces when the options are limited. You are likely to run out of funds long before you can even contemplate completion. Something which applies whatever you collect. >>



My Anglo-Saxon collection objective is extremely limited, but even that I think is extremely hard to complete. A nice run of Kings of All England, from Eadgar to Harold II, one piece per monarch (not one piece per type per monarch). Plus, Offa (portrait and non-portrait) and Aelfred (portrait and non-portrait). Plus any other superb sceat or penny that comes along as finances allow. All in aEF or better.

Even in the short run of Kings of All England, Edward the Martyr, Harthacnut (non-Swedish issue) and Harold II will be expensive in aEF or better.

EVP

RobP

Yep.

Think of me. Besides an example of each monarch, I have decided in my lack of wisdom to include an example of each mint, trying not to duplicate types wherever possible. Some will have to be duplicated such as A2 Crux & LSC, Cnut all types and W1 PAXS simply because there are a few mints that only occur on the same type, or at least are only available as duplicates of a type. So I'm filling in the rare mints first and then see what gaps remain. I may be a while........

EVillageProwler

RobP - your plan is friggin' craz... err... ambitious. Yeah, I think it will indeed take you a while. Quite a while, I would think. Also, many of the A2 mint/type combo don't come nice.

RobP

<< <i>RobP - your plan is friggin' craz... err... ambitious. Yeah, I think it will indeed take you a while. Quite a while, I would think. Also, many of the A2 mint/type combo don't come nice. >>



Boxes have been ticked. Once you sort out the difficult mints and which types are known, quite a lot of it falls into place by default. So for example, Cissbury has to be an A2 LSC because with 39 coins known for the mint, 38 LSC and a single Cnut in the museum, there were no options. Some types have very few rare mints striking the issue which are available to collect, so I acquired a Dorchester for William I sword, I bought a William II type 3 from Watchet because it is the only W2 from this mint in private hands. A Cnut Crewkerne was a no-brainer, etc. etc. You might have 30, 40 or even 50 mints striking a particular type, but nearly every issue is plagued with no available examples for certain mints, and in the case of Pershore and Horndon no available pieces period. You can't even do a complete mint run for William I PAXS because there is no Guildford available, the last available piece having been bought by Guildford Museum.

It's fair to say that I will never complete even if I had sufficient funds, which was one reason for starting. I will always have something to go for.

Edited for misprunts.

EVillageProwler

Don't forget the issues from the Franklin Mint.

ColinCMR

both look great! nice coins~!

marcmoish

Its nice to see and feel such passion - one can tell you breath and live for this stuff - cool n congrats.

worldcoinguy

I love the passion EVP. Its great to be able to share major milestone purchases at this place. Nice piece and I look forward to seeing and learning more about the series.

LochNESS

<< <i>Yes, I think the reverse says "BIARNRED MONETA" written awkwardly across three lines.
EVP >>


Let us not forget the bowling pins

Interesting how different the portrait looks from this silver:

Nap

Nice penny.

I just started down the Saxon road myself. I am starting with Northumbrian stycas which are tiny, and semi-overlooked by collectors. Some are ridiculously common (hoards of thousands of coins of Eanred and AEthelred II have been found), some ridiculously rare (Aethelwald, with something like 4 known examples). The good part though is there are plenty of varieties, and they're always being found by metal detectors.

At some point I'd like to do a Wessex/England Ecgberht-Harold II run, but it'll have to be some point far off

Hussulo

Congrats, a great coin.

coinlieutenant

Great coin EVP. I'm impressed how many collectors of these coins there are.