Newp (Anglo-Saxon) from Baltimore Spring 2016

EVillageProwler · April 2, 2016 2:53AM

I had a bit of a tense show, finding a few pieces I liked but not having much money. And, those pieces were not Anglo-Saxon. I had given up on the show by Thursday afternoon on my way back to the hotel room when I ran into a dealer who specializes in Anglo-Saxon material.

I was a bit pessimistic that this would turn out good for me, because I had never done business with this dealer before (I just recently heard of this 39-year veteran -- where have I been hiding?!?), and I wasn't sure if his grading was conservative or not. Also, this guy has a reputation for pricing his stuff high.

Anyway, I met up with him Friday morning and I went though his stuff. He has several pieces that I'd love to add to my collection. Anyway, I picked out a very nice Harold I penny (jewel cross type, SCBC 1163). He grades is "superb; as struck". To my eye, the dealer is not exaggerating. I also showed it to some dealers who do not specialize in this stuff, and they also seemed very happy with my selection.

The coin is very lustrous, with an attractive light but vibrant golden patina. Well struck, but with some stain spots on the reverse that don't bother me at all.

Where I need help with is identifying the moneyer. The reverse legend says: + EGLNERON THEODI. I was unable to find *any* moneyer whose name resembles "EGLNERON", at Thetford or elsewhere, for this monarch or others.

(image updated)

EVillageProwler · April 2, 2016 2:55AM

I forgot to mention that this dealer does price his stuff high for some items, but for others it seemed very reasonable to me when I compare to commensurate quality from other sources.

EVillageProwler · April 2, 2016 6:03AM

The closest moneyer I can find who struck Jewel Cross type pennies at Thetford was Aegelmer. What do you think? Remember that these folks were largely illiterate and often do not know how even to spell their own names.

ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Harold I Harefoot.

1035-1040. AR Penny (17mm, 1.14g, 3h). Jewel Cross type. Struck 1036-1038. Thetford mint; Æthelmær, moneyer. + H?RO LD RE•X•; diademed and draped bust left / + EGLNER ON DEODF; cross composed of four ovals united at base by two concentric circles enclosing a pellet. North 802; SCBC 1163. Superb EF; as struck. Well struck and lustrous, with attractive light vibrant golden toning. Some stain spots on the reverse.

Edited to update the moneyer and reverse legend per update from Nap.

JCMhouston · April 2, 2016 6:08AM

I can't help on the moneyer, but that certainly looks nice from the image!

Nap · April 2, 2016 8:57PM

Yay!

Moneyer is Aethelmaer, mint is Thetford

(AEGLMER ON DEOD)

Similar to EMC 1985.0025

EVillageProwler · April 2, 2016 10:01PM

Dang, Nap, you're a smart one. Once you write the legend as EGLNER ON DEODF, the answer becomes obvious. Thanks!

The reason I wrote the legend with ON attached to the moneyer is because that was how the dealer wrote it and it just stuck in my head.

The dealer also wrote "very rare" without notating why: perhaps because of the quality, perhaps because mint or moneyer combo. Anyway, I paid type money for the quality.

EVillageProwler · April 9, 2016 9:31AM

Image updated above. The image is better than before, but still not quite right as the coin is actually very flashy with golden champagne color on obverse and yellow-orange color on the reverse. The fields are semi-PL, especially so the obverse. That's why the fields are dark in the image (it's the "black" in a "black-and-white" cameo contrast, only without the corresponding "white" portions).

Fortuitously, the dark spots again didn't show up in the image.

Newp (Anglo-Saxon) from Baltimore Spring 2016

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