Anglo-Saxon Middle Period - Late 8th century to 973 AD.

In this section are shown Anglo-Saxon and Viking pennies dating to before the coinage reform of 973 AD.  Viking raids on Britain commenced in the late 8th century. The commonly accepted date for the start of the Viking Age in Britain is June 8, 793, when the monastery of Lindisfarne, located on the northeast coast of England, was attacked. This event is often cited as the beginning of a period of Scandinavian expansion and raiding across Europe.

See elsewhere for Anglo-Saxon sceats.

• CUNETTI penny, c. 900 AD
• Spink 993
• Weight: 1.43 gm
• Diameter: 20 mm
• Obv: CR T E N  V, patriarchal cross.
• Rev: Small cross with CUNNETTI 
• Provenance: Dr. E. Burstall Collection
• My ref # 1069

The Viking Kingdom of York, also known as the Kingdom of Jórvík, was a Norse kingdom established in the city of York and its surrounding areas in northern England. It emerged following the Viking conquest of the city in 866 AD, led by the Great Heathen Army, a coalition of Norse warriors from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Lyon and Stewart have suggested that the enigmatic legend 'CVNNETTI", on coins such as this, maybe a Latinized rendering of Hunedeus, an historically attested Viking leader, who held power at York with the otherwise unknown Cnut.

Eadred, 

• East Anglian Mints
• Penny, c. 950 AD
• Refs: SCBI 68 [Lyon], 725; North 713; Spink 1115
• Weight: 0.99 gm
• Diameter: xxx mm
• Obv: EADRED REX, diademed and draped bust right.
• Rev: + ENGELBERT MO, small cross pattée.  
• Provenance: ...xxxxx
• My ref # 2511

King Eadred  was an Anglo-Saxon king who ruled from 946 to 955 AD. He was the son of Edward the Elder and his third wife, Eadgifu of Kent, and a grandson of Alfred the Great. Eadred is noted for his efforts to consolidate and expand the Kingdom of England, particularly through his campaigns against the Viking Kingdom of York.

An extremely scarce moneyer for the portrait type. Englbred and Ingelberd are both known readings for Eadred’s Two Line type (CTCE 30 and 42/1)

King Edgar, also known as Edgar the Peaceful (Old English: Ēadgār), reigned as King of England from 959 to 975 AD. He was the younger son of King Edmund I and succeeded his brother Eadwig. Edgar is notable for his effective administration, promotion of monastic reform, and the relative peace and stability that characterized his reign.  Born in 943 AD, Edgar was the younger son of King Edmund I and Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury.  After the death of his brother Eadwig in 959 AD, Edgar became the undisputed king of a united England.  His reign is often described as a period of peace and prosperity, earning him the epithet "the Peaceful."  Edgar maintained control over his kingdom through a combination of strong governance and diplomacy.   He worked closely with prominent church figures such as Saint Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, Saint Oswald, Bishop of Worcester, and Saint Æthelwold, Bishop of Winchester, and his efforts led to the establishment and reform of many monasteries across England.  Edgar died on July 8, 975 AD, and was buried at Glastonbury Abbey.  He was succeeded by his elder son, Edward the Martyr, whose short and tumultuous reign was followed by the rule of Edgar's younger son, Æthelred the Unready.

• Two line type, pre-Reform.
• Penny, c. 970 AD
• Ref: Spink 1129
• Weight: 1.12 gm
• Diameter: 20.5 mm
• Obv: + EADG An REX, note the pellets aside each "A".  Small cross.
• Rev: CARD / +++ / EH MO (Moneyer is Carthen).  
• Provenance: Spink auction.12/12/2023, Haddenham Coll'n, lot 167.
• My ref # 1297