EARLY MEDIEVAL COIN

825

A silver penny of Ecgberht of Wessex (802-839). This would appear to be a previously unrecorded coin type. The obverse is as North's 'Portrait Type', no. 576, minted in Rochester between c. 825 and c. 828. The moneyer is Ethelmod, who is a known moneyer of North 576; however, the reverse image is not as that in 576 (a cross with a wedge in each angle), but is a match for the obverse of North no. 582, a 'Non-portrait Type' of c. 828-c. 839, the form of which is a cross pattee on a cross saltire with a lozenge centre.The coin is damaged, is missing a small portion and there is some adhering copper corrosion. The surfaces, however, show little sign of wear. The diameter is 19.9mm, the thickness is 0.5mm and the weight is 1.17g.Mark Blackburn and Rory Naismith (pers. comm.) confirm this to be a new coin type for Ecgberht of Wessex. According to Dr. Naismith, "The distinction between 'early' and 'late' Rochester pennies of Ecgberht is very tentative, and this new find only adds to the complications: it combines a 'late' obverse type (used here on the reverse) with an 'early' bust. Consequently it could be transitional, or an indication that a variety of portrait and non-portrait designs were used side by side across the period 825-839".