£78,000 For Ancient Coin - But Could it Solve an Anglo-Saxon Murder?

Hussulo · July 12, 2014 7:37AM

The 1,200 year old coin had a guide price of £20,000 - but sold for £78,000 Dix Noonan Webb

A rare silver coin sold for £78,000 at auction, and experts claim its discovery could provide a clue to the gruesome murder of an Anglo-Saxon king 1,200 years ago.

Link to the article -> http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/78000-ancient-coin-could-it-solve-anglo-saxon-murder-1452684

determined · July 12, 2014 8:57AM

Cool story! I love the history. Thanks.

EDIT: And it is amazing that it survived in a field for 1200 years and is still in that condition. I wonder if it was cleaned. It doesn't look like it to me. I wonder if that's the condition it was found in. If so, it blows out of the water the thinking that coins that old left outside for that long should be black from tarnish.

NiceCurrency · July 12, 2014 12:23PM

that is in absurdly good condition for a medieval, quite cool!

Hussulo · July 13, 2014 6:13AM

I'm pretty sure it hasn't been cleaned. I have been out metal detecting with friend and watch them dig out Edward I pennies that look just as good even though they have been in the ground for hundreds of years. I think gold and silver coins survive a lot better but soil condition must play a part too.

mdwoods · July 13, 2014 9:43AM

Very cool coin and story. It's good to be the king, unless there's a bigger king nearby.

Nap · October 27, 2014 1:44AM

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I noticed a little article I missed here that states that the coin was purchased by a private collector and loaned to the Fitzwilliam museum, should be on display there the next time you find yourself in Cambridge.

Aethelred · October 27, 2014 9:18PM

That is an interesting article, and a wonderful coin, but I am going to complain a little....

I know this is splitting hairs, but a coin minted in the late AD 700s is NOT Ancient. The ancient world ended with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476. The Middle Ages span from the fall of Rome to the voyage of Columbus, making this coin very much medieval.

Nap · October 27, 2014 9:32PM

<< <i>That is an interesting article, and a wonderful coin, but I am going to complain a little....

I know this is splitting hairs, but a coin minted in the late AD 700s is NOT Ancient. The ancient world ended with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476. The Middle Ages span from the fall of Rome to the voyage of Columbus, making this coin very much medieval. >>

Agree, would call it medieval, as with all Anglo-Saxon issues. Although in fairness a Byzantine coin from that era would probably be classified as ancient so not sure if the date itself is the problem.

By the way, Aethelred, I have on order a new "Aethelred" coin that I will soon take pictures of. It's not Aethelred II of England, and it's not Aethelred (I or II) of Northumbria but a different Aethelred altogether...

Aethelred · October 27, 2014 9:35PM

<< <i>

By the way, Aethelred, I have on order a new "Aethelred" coin that I will soon take pictures of. It's not Aethelred II of England, and it's not Aethelred (I or II) of Northumbria but a different Aethelred altogether... >>

I can't wait to see it, I hope you will post photos as soon as possible.

nealeffendi · October 28, 2014 1:15PM

<< <i>That is an interesting article, and a wonderful coin, but I am going to complain a little....

I know this is splitting hairs, but a coin minted in the late AD 700s is NOT Ancient. The ancient world ended with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476. The Middle Ages span from the fall of Rome to the voyage of Columbus, making this coin very much medieval. >>

Who decides when the periods ended? Seems that Western European scholars and their western-centric mindsets based the worlds historical periods on events in Europe. I'm sure people in other parts of the world have differing opinions. Many would date the rise of the muslim empire as the start of the medieval period as historians note that is when the old trade routes were severed and the Dark Ages became truly dark. Also why the voyage of Columbus to mark the end of the medieval period? That is American-centric and other events around then were also important to the Renaissance.

Aethelred · October 28, 2014 9:57PM

<< <i>

Who decides when the periods ended? Seems that Western European scholars and their western-centric mindsets based the worlds historical periods on events in Europe. I'm sure people in other parts of the world have differing opinions. Many would date the rise of the muslim empire as the start of the medieval period as historians note that is when the old trade routes were severed and the Dark Ages became truly dark. Also why the voyage of Columbus to mark the end of the medieval period? That is American-centric and other events around then were also important to the Renaissance. >>

The coin in question is from England and the article about the coin is from a source in England. England is a Western nation that has always interacted with Europe, inaddition England played a large role in the colonization of America, where many of the members of this forum live.

This IS a Western centric thread, so it would not be logical to talk about it in terms of Islamic or Asian eras, if it were a coin from Japan it would be quite different.

LochNESS · October 29, 2014 6:18PM

I believe the very nature of the term "Dark Ages" and "Ancient" times and "Renaissance" are all European perspectives and thus must be defined by European events.
It is my understanding that when the muslim empire rose, and overtook Sassanid dynasty and the like, ties with the Roman empire fell apart. The Roman Empire was already weak and shortly thereafter the "ancient" times came to a close. However, and again this is just my limited recollection of high school history, the dawn of the Dark Ages is marked by the crusades and not necessarily by the muslim empire's rise. Although they are definitely connected.

Anyway, we all know who wrote our history books. Romans, Greeks, and other Europeans. So why act so surprised? What do you mean "who decides" - the Europeans of old made these decisions long ago, friend.

£78,000 For Ancient Coin - But Could it Solve an Anglo-Saxon Murder?

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