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TYRANT COLLECTION
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SCEAT OF SECONDARY PHASE (730-760 AD)
Aethelbald, King of Mercia, 716-757 AD
Minted at London. Diademed bust facing left, with long cross before face; reverse, figures standing in
boat holding cross and bird (eagle?).
S-804G. PCGS-graded AU53.
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SILVER “LIGHT” PENNY (779-792/3 AD)
Offa, King of Mercia, 757-796 AD
Canterbury mint, moneyer Ealred. Half-length, bare-headed portrait facing right (Bust B). Very rare.
On the reverse, the Celtic cross is centered by a small cross surrounded by 12 pellets, a motif which has
religious connotations (Christ and the 12 disciples), also found on the “Interlace” penny of Beonna, king
of East Anglia, a coin issued almost 50 years earlier. This Christian symbolism was used throughout the
Middle Ages, especially on silver coins. Virtually as struck with a deeply engraved, unusually bold and
magnificent portrait and crisply struck reverse, toned a rich golden gray patina.
S-905, N-291. PCGS-graded AU58.
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SILVER PENNY (CIRCA 817-821 AD)
Coenwulf, King of Mercia, 796-821 AD
East Anglia mint. Reverse is a stylized lozenge with a large cross at each angle extending to the rim
beading; a “floating” cross is in front of the first letter of the moneyer’s name, Wodel. Extremely rare.
An extraordinary example of this late issue with a clear portrait and a boldly detailed reverse, the “thin”
letters of the legends shallowly engraved, superbly struck on a flan of good metal and even showing full
rim beading, ancient gray patina.
S-920. N-370. PCGS-graded AU58.