Aethelred II Silver Long Cross Penny, Cambridge, Eadwine 978-1016

Description

Denomination: Silver voided long cross penny

Period: Late Anglo-Saxon

Date: 978-1016

Origin: Cambridge mint. Eadwine moneyer

Condition: VF toned but a little crimped. a few peckmarks

Obverse: Bare–headed bust. left. legend around +AEDELRED REX AL pellet below

Reverse: Voided long cross. each arm terminating in a crescent. +EDPNE M’O GRAT

Size and Weight: 19.5mm. 1.42g

References: Spink 1151. North 774. SCBI Cop 377 & SCBI Fitzwilliam 680. same dies

Features and Provenance: Ex DNW. Michael Trenerry collection. previously C.J Martin 1986. prior to that. Elmore Jones. 1971

Aethelred came to the throne of England in 978. at the age of twelve. after the assassination of his older brother Edward (the Martyr) the assassins were supporters of Aethelred. but it is unlikely that Aethelred himself had anything to do with the conspiracy. His name in Old English means: Aethel= noble and red= council or advice. so it is rather ironic that his nickname became ‘the Unready’ =ill advised. However. the first record of this nickname doesn’t appear until 150 years after his death in 1016 and it is very unlikely that his contemporaries thought of him in this light. 

Peckmarks are a lovely link to the past. they are marks made by a Viking to test the silver content.

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