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Auction: 14007 - Ancient, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 478

Mercia, Offa (757-796), Penny, 1.21g, light coinage, East Anglia, c.780/5-c.92/3, portrait type, Oethelred, diademed and draped bust right of accomplished style, diadem tail extends into legend?, distinctive 'hatched' drapery which breaks legend, +xer+affo+, chevron-barred a in this retrograde legend, rev. oe / Ðe / lr / ed, in angles of cross-crosslet with lozenge containing cross of petals on annulet at centre (Chick. obverse unlisted / 174a; Blunt 71 var.; N. 305 var.; S.906), dark staining to obverse, some pitting in areas, otherwise a particularly pleasing and sharp obverse, nearly extremely fine/very fine, full and unchipped, this obverse die unique

provenance
Found near Barham, Kent
Recorded with the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, EMC 2014.0027

The symbol pointing like an arrow to the back of King Offa's head is intriguing. Though it's common to see crosses in the legend this symbol appears attached to the tie of the diadem as if representing the hanging lace and beads, cf Chick 25, 53, 92, etc. for other examples whereby the tie is incorporated into the portrait

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Sold for
£3,800