Another newp: Anglo-Saxon hammered penny

EVillageProwler · March 14, 2012 9:25AM

This baby is S-1144, from the reign of Aethelred II, the "Unready" (actually, "Unrede", meaning without council). It's a "First Hand" type, minted in Ipswich, moneyer Waltferth.

It has a pretty cool provenance too, per the seller:

Most probably ex Ipswich, Butter Market Hoard, 1863, Suffolk, England (TM 1644).
Purchased at A. H. Baldwins, November 20, 1973
Ex Bernard R. Osborne Collection (1913-1990), Glendinings Auction, 23 April, 1991.

FilthyBroke · March 14, 2012 9:31AM

Very nice!

I met the seller at the NYINC, he's really great to deal with.

EVillageProwler · March 14, 2012 9:45AM

FB - this is my first transaction with the seller. No complaints so far, and hopefully none to come!

About the coin, well, I feel a bit ignorant. I'm looking at the coin with my naked eye, and then with a 5x loupe, and the coin looks nothing like what I expect. The seller grades it EF (and he's a reputable grader), and that roughly translates to ChAU to low MS by US standards. I'm a long-time collector of US Bust, Seated and Trade Dollars, in that exact grade range. Let me tell you that there is no comparison. Yeah, I know it's obvious and folks will want to say 'doh!' to me. But, each time I look at my hammered pennies close up, I am still thrown by the dramatic differences.

This coin is nicely rounded, and of pleasing metal and toning, and without any noticeable blemishes or excessive peck marks. But, with my 5x loupe, I see trace surface encrustation and minor amounts of roughness. For a coin that is over 1000 years old, I'm not sure what to expect.

It's a huge learning experience for me, and fun too. I'm trying to keep my expenses down for now, but these are just so darn pretty!

EVP

FilthyBroke · March 14, 2012 10:16AM

I've found that there is such a thing as inspecting these coins too closely. Now I'll admit that I have little experience with these in higher grades, but the minting process was so crude back in those days that I doubt they would even compare to more recent issues. I've found his grading pretty close if not a bit conservative from my own experience.

Zohar · March 14, 2012 11:53AM

I really like this collecting theme of yours!

EVillageProwler · March 14, 2012 11:56AM

Thanks, Z, but I should tell you that my main theme is still silver crown-sized pieces in choice condition.

marcmoish · March 14, 2012 12:50PM

yup agreed very nice indeed.

DeiGratia · March 15, 2012 5:30AM

beautiful coin!

If coins could talk.... just imagine the stories for this old piece

EVillageProwler · March 15, 2012 7:49AM

<< <i>beautiful coin!

If coins could talk.... just imagine the stories for this old piece >>

Thanks. England was, at the time, beset with internal and external conflict. The king assumed his position at too young of an age, and the kingdom was prey to political and military pressure from the Vikings and the Normans.

IMO, the pressures on that kingdom then was more severe than during the Wars of the Roses. England was just getting out of the Dark Ages, just unified into a single kingdom (because the Vikings had conquered the remaining), and seemed to be a conduit for trouble in that part of the world. They didn't see themselves as a single nation yet, not really...

During the Wars of the Roses, it was British against British. Sure, there were external influences, but at least Britain was in no real danger of foreign conquest. The early Henry's saw to that!

So, if that coin could talk, we may hear a sad tale of woe.

EVP

Another newp: Anglo-Saxon hammered penny

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