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Tyrants of the Thames
19
SILVER PENNY (CIRCA 959-972/3)
Eadgar, King of Mercia and of all England, 957-959 AD, 959-975 AD
Pre-Reform Coinage, without mint name. Large crowned portrait facing right; reverse, small cross pat-
tée. Moneyer Wulfstan, pellet and tiny cross in field. On a full broad flan of good metal, nearly complete
outer beaded rims, shallowly engraved but well-detailed bust of king, thin but clear legends, some an-
cient deposits on gray patina.
S-1138. N-750. PCGS-graded AU55.
20
SILVER PENNY (975-978 AD)
Edward the Martyr, King of all England, 975-978 AD
Stamford mint, Moneyer Hild. Styled after the Reform Coinage of Eadgar. Diademed portrait facing
left with king’s title ending in ANGLO (for All England); reverse, small central cross within large field,
legend surrounding within 2 circles. Rare. Edward was King Eadgar’s first son; he was murdered just
three years into his reign, by which event he has come to be known. A superior looking example on a full
broad flan of good metal, with complete, elongated beading along the rims, the king’s image bold, most
of legend sharp, unusually fine golden brownish gray patina.
S-1142. N-763. PCGS-graded MS62.
21
SILVER PENNY (997-1003 AD)
Aethelred II, King of all England, 978-1016 AD
London mint, moneyer Godman. Bare-headed portrait facing left, without scepter; reverse, long cross
voided, central pellet, each limb terminating in 3 crescents. A very choice example of this type, evenly
and sharply struck on a broad full flan of good metal, with broad beaded rims, and unusually fine pinkish
blue and gray pastel patina.
S-1151. N-774. PCGS-graded MS64.