ANGLO-SAXON, Anglo-Viking (Danish Northumbria). Imitations of Alfred the Great. Circa 885-915. AR Penny (20mm, 1.40 g, 12h). Beornweald, moneyer. ΛCIED + PE+ D–◊R◊, small cross pattée / B(NR)IV/AD MO (ornamented O) in two lines; pellets between. SCBI 4 (Copenhagen), 91 corr. (attribution); cf. BMC 63 (Plegmund); North 475/1; SCBC 966. Old cabinet toning, a few faint marks. EF.
From the Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection, purchased from J. Linzalone, October 2009. Ex Spink 175 (28 September 2005), lot 1314; Spink 16 (9 July 1981), lot 461; P.W.P. Carlyon-Britton (Part III, Sotheby, Wilkinson, & Hodge, 11 November 1918), lot 1623.
In the southern regions of the kingdom of Northumbria, where Danes settled in great numbers, the little known Viking kings Cnut and Siefred introduced the hammered silver penny in place of the copper stycas struck by last Anglo-Saxon kings ruling from York. They also coined pennies in imitation of the those of Alfred the Great, such as this example.
The selection of pennies offered in the auction also includes issues with iconography praising Saint Peter, patron of York, and patriarchal crosses (lots 1031 and 1035). The exceeding rare coin of Ragnald (lot 1036) depicts the hand of God and, on the reverse the monogram of Charlemagne. The Danes in the Great Army had earlier plundered the Carolingian Empire and received many Carolingian deniers in tribute or Danegeld. The iconography of these coins document how the ever pragmatic Danes respected the religious beliefs of their English subjects and power of the Archbishops of York. Within two generations, the Danish settlers in the Danelaw transformed themselves from Vikings into Christian landowners.
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