King Aethelstan Halfpenny Silver Cut Two Line Type 924-939

Description

Header: Anglo-Saxon, Aethelstan Halfpenny Silver Cut, Two Line Type, 924-939, RARE

Denomination: Silver penny, as cut half

Period: Anglo-Saxon

Date: AD 924-939

Origin: Possibly Leicester or Lincoln mint

Condition: EF, with bold strike

Obverse: Small cross pattée within inner circle, royal title around, +ÆÐVL[STAN R]E

Reverse: Moneyer’s name across two lines with three crosses pattée between, trefoils above and below, ÐRST[-]

Size and Weight: 22mm, 0.83g

References: S 1089; N 668

Features and Provenance: Ex Timeline sale.

Æthelstan or Athelstan was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 924 to 927 and King of the English from 927 to his death in 939. Historians regard him as the first King of All England and one of the greatest Anglo-Saxon kings as he was a brave and forceful leader and after taking control of Danish held territories in England, brought all of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms under one ruler. He re-structured the coinage and mints with strict control over the moneyers administering from each borough or important city.

Numismatic note: Round half pennies were introduced by some moneyers during this period, but they are extremely rare, cut half pennies were probably still the usual form of small change.  The legend on our coin is somewhat divergent from the norm with the E replaced by a V but research has found a similar piece with excellent provenance with the same lettering from a differing die, so it is not unheard of. Illiterate die makers often made errors in lettering, they obviously went unnoticed and still went into production, even when quality of silver and weight were strictly monitored.

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between

Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear, all parts of legend etc present, visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief, all parts of legend etc present, but maybe worn

Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible