EARLY MEDIEVAL COIN

765

Offa of Mercia silver penny. This non portrait coin has +OFF/A REX written across the obverse side in fields. The legend is divided by a horizontal line of pellets. A beaded circle can just be seen around the edge of the coin. The reverse has a horizontal line of pellets with fleury ends. Above this line is an alphabetic variation of the letter 'd' bordered on three sides by small crosses. Below the pelleted line is the legend UD, with a small cross below. This relates to the moneyer Dud or Udd. The coin is similar to the Early Medieval Coin Corpus number 1985.0067, however the obverse has OFFA on one line, rather than divided between the F and A. The coin was most likely minted in London. It has a diameter of 16.87mm, i s0.99mm thick and weighs 1.23 grams. The non-portrait issues of this light coinage dates from circa 765 to circa 792AD. [b.e.e.]