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Auction: 14007 - Ancient, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 476

Mercia, Offa (757-796), Penny, 1.12g, light coinage, c.779-92, London, Ealhmund, long cross pattée with cross of pellets enclosed by a quatrefoil in centre, garnish of pellets in field, o / f / r / m in angles of cross, uncial m, all letters contracted, rev. +alhmvnd:, around heavy beaded inner circle containing a cross pattée with a pellet in each angle, pellets dispersed within legend (Chick 6a var / 41-2 var; same; Blunt 8; N. -; S.904), a field find, small chip at 3 o'clock and lightly porous, deep tone, generally full, well struck, good very fine, unique and a new type for the reign of King Offa

provenance
Found West Lindsey district, Lincolnshire, August 2014
Recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, British Museum,
ref. LANCUM-AA972C
Recorded with the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, EMC 2014.0251

This obverse is very closely paralleled by that of Chick 6a, moneyer mang which lacks the central quatrefoil. Both Chick 41 and 42, moneyer ealhstan, display a similar reverse but are without the heavily beaded inner circle. The obverse parallel, however, is most distinct and it is interesting to note that Chick 6a emanates from the earlier reformed coinage of London, c.760-c.770. Therefore, either the current piece is a close later copy of this early die or the two dies were cut concurrently.

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Sold for
£1,500