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IV.VI Anarchy and confusion in the year 796.

Anglo-Saxon England was thrown into a state of confusion, following a breakdown of order in the year 796. The omnipotent king ◊ffa of Mercia died in this year and many kings and nobles fought to fill the power vacuum created in several kingdoms formerly under Mercian rule. ◊ffa effectively controlled all five major English countries, and had died arguably the most successful Anglo-Saxon king ever. In 796 ◊ffa was king of Mercia, king of East Anglia by conquest, king of Kent by conquest, Overlord of Wessex through its dependant king and his daughter was married to the Northumbrian king. His grip on power was absolute. When he died everything changed ......

Mercia. AD 796.

◊ffa died as Bretwalda, or ruler of the English. His power is evident from extant charters. He deposed kings almost at will, imprisoned some, demoted others to the rank of duke, exiled many and executed others. Several were dependant on him, and certain were client kings. In a show of strength he had his eldest son Ecgferth crowned and annointed to succeed him in AD 787.

Offa's son Ecgferth survived his father to become sole ruler of Mercia, but reigned for only 141 days. He died on December 14th 796 under uncertain circumstances.

Following Ecgferth's brief five month reign the Mercian throne passed to a distant relative through the female line, Cœnvulf, who may or may not have been involved in his death. Cœnvulf was a strong ruler in the tradition of ◊ffa, and won back the briefly independant territories for Mercia. He ruled until his death in 821.

Tribrach Moline penny of Cœnvulf of Mercia. Minted by Sebeorht at Canterbury after 798.

East Anglia. AD 796.

◊ffa of Mercia had ruled East Anglia directly since betraying, capturing and executing its king Æthelberht in 794. Æthelberht was later sainted and Hereford Cathedral dedicated to him. ◊ffa died July 26th 796.

Upon ◊ffa's death an otherwise unknown noble of the East Anglian royal house, Eadwald, made a push for the throne but was prevented by Ecgferth. After Ecgferth's death Eadwald successfully became king and held on to power for two years. In 798 Cœnwulf reconquered East Anglia and ruled it directly until his death. Eadwald is virtually unknown to history. The chronicles make no mention of an East Anglian monarch at this time. All we know of Eadwald comes from his [extremely rare] coinage. We do not even know if he was deposed and exiled or killed in 798.

Quatrefoil penny of Eadwald of East Anglia. Minted by Eadnoth, one of ◊ffa's moneyers, between 796 and 798. This coin is so rare it is classed as a Great Rarity.

Kent. AD 796.

◊ffa had ruled Kent directly for 11 years up to his death in 796, although he had overseen it previously through client and dependant kings. Several Kentish and Kentish provincial monarchs were deposed under his rule. Upon his death in 796, Kent strove for independence.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle states under the year 796, that Eadberht "who was by another name Praen" took possession of Kent. He had previously been exiled by ◊ffa to the continental court of Charlemagne, where he had apparently taken holy orders. He ruled Kent from 796-798, approximately contemporary with Eadwald in East Anglia. Coenvulf obtained papal approval for a reconquest of Kent in 798, the reason given being that Eadberht was an apostate priest. Eadberht III Praen was captured and taken bound into Mercia, where he was imprisoned in a monastary ruled by Cœnvulf's daughter Cœnthryth. He was subsequently ritually mutilated, by having his eyes put out and his hands cut off. Cœnvulf later released him as an act of clemency, but not before he was forced to witness the annointing of Cœnwulf's brother Cuthred as king of Kent, 798-807. The reign of Eadberht Praen was the last time Kent existed as an independant kingdom.

Northumbria. AD 796.

Aethelred I of Northumbria was murdered by his bodyguard on the night of 18th April 796 at Corbridge, after a second reign of seven years. He had ruled ruthlessly [twice] with an iron hand. Many rival claimants had been mutilated, imprisoned, exiled and executed. Contemporary chroniclers call him a tyrant.

Upon Aethelred's death a veteran Ealdorman Osbald became king. His short reign lasted only 27 days, before the royal household abandoned him and the people deserted him. He was exiled to Lindisfarne, and later given refuge by Constantine king of the Picts. He was known as a bloodthirsty tyrant and homicidal murderer even before he became king. He had had another ealdorman, Beorn, burned alive. Alcuin notes Osbald's pagan hairstyle.

Ealdorman Eardwulf was chosen king after the forced exile of Osbald. Æðelred I had ordered him put to death at Ripon, outside the monastery gates, but he had survived probably through the deliberately botched attempts of the executioners. He became king on 14th May 796, and was consecrated by archbishop Eanbald I of York and other bishops on 26th May 796, at York. Eardwulf reigned 796-806. He was deposed by Ælfwald II with the assistance of Cœnvulf of Mercia. Although sometimes strenuously opposed and eventually deposed and exiled, he founded a dynasty that ruled Northumbria after him. His son Eanred and grandson Æthelred II both reigned in turn for over 30 years each.

Wessex. AD 796.

King Beorhtric of Wessex managed to survive the anarchy of 796, although he was a Mercian dependant. He ruled 786-802.

The Church. AD 796.

Eanbald I was elected archbishop of York in 780. He was solemnly consecrated in 782 after Alcuin had fetched his pallium from Rome. His life included much good work, he carried on the great school of York and was justly proud of its famous library. His last public act was to crown Eardvulf king of Northumbria, on 25th June 796. Eanbald I died on August 10th 796, at Etlete monastery. His body was brought to York for interrment.

Following the death of Eanbald I, Eanbald II was chosen as his successor on 14th August 796. He was solemnly confirmed in office on 8th September 797 after recieving the pallium from Rome. He had been educated at the York school under the famous scholar Alcuin. He is remembered for assisting archbishop Æthelheard of Canterbury to recover the prerogatives lost by the creation of the archbishopric of Lichfield under Offa of Mercia. He is thought to have introduced the Roman Rite into the church of York. Archbishop Eanbald II died c.835.

Base silver sceat of archbishop Eanbald II of York. Minted by Eardvulf of York c. 825 ?

Sources : Wikipedia website. Catholic Encyclopedia website. Britannia Biographies website. Books : Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Anne Savage Ed. Anglo-Saxon England. Sir Frank Stenton. Coins of England and the United Kingdom 2007. Spink.

Posted by dragonbloodaxe on 20/05/2007.
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IV.V A Great Reformer.

Eadgar [surnamed the Peaceable] became king on 1st October 959 upon the death of his brother Eadwig. He was sixteen years old. He had been king of Mercia since 957 when the Mercians and Northumbrians renounced their allegiance to Eadwig, through his choice of thoughtless and irresponsible advisors.

Eadgar married twice. With his first wife he produced a son and future king, Eadward [the Martyr, 975-978]. In 964 he wed his second wife, Elfthryth, daughter of ealdorman [earl] Ordgar of Devon and widow of ealdorman Aethelwold of East Anglia. By her he had two sons. The eldest died in 971, and the younger became king Aethelred II of England, 978-1016.

His long-deferred coronation took place at Bath [then called Acemannesceastre] on Whit Sunday 973. The emphasis was on the sacred annointing of the monarch rather than the crowning, and it may be significant that the ceremony did not take place until he was thirty years old, as this was the age that a priest could be canonically ordained, and Eadgar was a very pious man. Eadgar formalised the rite of coronation, with St. Dunstan, as a model for that of future kings of England. Until his reign there had been no formalised rite.

St. Dunstan had been exiled under Eadwig for affronting the king, his wife and her mother. He was brought back to England by Eadgar, who enthusiastically supported his monastic reforms. There were few parallels of this kind of close co-operation between secular and ecclesiastical authorities throughout the entire Medieval period.

It has been said that Eadgar kept England safe from foriegn enemies for sixteen years, and indeed this is so, although England was not actually attacked during his reign. He did maintain a high level of internal order and this set the standard for future reigns.

He was the first king to recognise the Danish east of England as part of his realm, instead of a conquered province. In return for loyalty he granted autonomy to the region, in respect of social and legal customs, although the king chose the earls and bishops who would govern it in his name. Punishment for dissent was more severe in this province than anywhere else in England. This gave rise to the name "Danelaw" by which the region would become known in later times.

Perhaps the most well known incident in his reign took place at Chester shortly after his coronation. Six [or possibly eight] kings of Britain presented themselves to him and became his men, offering him subjugation. This is attested by three separate manuscripts of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, though the story of them rowing Eadgar up the Dee is probably apocryphal. Stenton believes the core of this story to be genuine, and the part containing the tale of the river to contain grains of truth concerning the kings being subject to Eadgar. We can deduce that the kings mentioned, sometimes under different names, were :

King Kenneth of Scots, 971-? and 977-995.

King Iago of Gwynedd, 950-979.

Prince Hywel son of Idwal, nephew and enemy of Iago. Later king of Gwynedd, 979-985.

Maccus son of Harold. "King of many Islands" a famous Sea King of the era.

King Domnall III of Strathclyde. Was reigning in 945 and is attested 30 years later.

Prince Malcolm, son of Domnall III. Later king of Strathclyde, 973/5-997.

Eadgar died suddenly on the 8th July 975. His death threw the country into confusion as neither of his sons was old enough to rule in his own right. His eldest son had offended many important persons with his violent speech and behaviour. Long after he was sainted his outbursts of rage were remembered, and probably for this reason a large number of nobles resolved to promote the election to kingship of his younger brother Aethelred.

Eadward was crowned king before the end of 975, but this sparked a kind of "cold war" between the rival factions in the months immediately following Eadgars death. Eadward was brutally murdered [under what Stenton calls "circumstances of abominable treachery"] in 978. His brother was crowned a month later, and although not directly involved in the murder, he never managed to escape the stigma throughout his long and mostly ineffective reign. His reign was one characterised by huge payments of Danegeld, in an attempt to buy off the Viking invaders. He was eventually dethroned by king Swein of Denmark, and his famous son Cnut, king of England 1016-1035.

The legacy of Eadgar the Peaceable is the fact that he set many standards for future monarchs of England to follow. His far-reaching reforms included secular, ecclesiastical and monetary. It is a fitting tribute that chroniclers of his reign mention not a single negative incident with regard to king Eadgar.

The Currency of Eadgar.

In monetary terms Eadgar is best remembered for his reforming laws of 973, which proclaimed that there would be a grand recoinage, new mints would open and there would be a new issue every six years. A royal portrait now became a regular feature, and the mint of issue was struck on the coinage along with the moneyers name. This system remained unchanged until the reign of Henry II in the 1150's.

The pre-reform coinage of Eadgar is prolific, as it covers the majority of his reign. On the basis of lettering it is possible to assign most of his coins to a region of manufacture. These regions are N.E. England, N.W. England, York, East Anglia, Midlands, S.E. England, Southern England and S.W. England.

Two-Line HR type. Small thick letters, minted Lincoln area. Moneyer is HUNRED. This coin is possibly a cut half penny.

Common classes include the Two-Line type, with the moneyers name across two lines on the reverse. Various crosses, rosettes and pellets form the centre lines, tops and bottoms of the reverses of these coins. Circumscription cross and rosette issues are also quite common, having this design on both sides of the coin. And in each of these types there are sub issues that name the moneyer and mint town, and also those that simply name the moneyer. Mules are frequently encountered between these types.

Two-line HR type [HT1]. Late type with small flan. North-Eastern style. Coarse thick letters, minted York. Moneyer is EANWULF.

Various rarities of design are to be found amongst the coinage of Eadgar. Round halfpennies were produced in numbers, all of which are very rare. The designs on these coins include flowers, scrolls and monograms and on some the mint town is added.

The rare Crowned Bust issue sets another standard for future reigns to follow. These coins have a large right-facing bust with a small cross on the obverse. Early issues have a portrait and the moneyers name. The later issues are similar but add the place of minting. There are regional varieties of bust evident on these coins. For example those of the South West are neat and of good style, whilst those of East Anglia are simply crude caricatures.

Bust Crowned fragment penny of Eadgar. East Anglian type. Unrecorded moneyer +SVA.....

The single type of post-reform penny has a left-facing neater bust, with legend EADGAR REX ANGLOR X. The small cross reverse names both moneyer and mint. The coinage of Eadward the Martyr differs only in the monarchs name [Please see post II.IX The cult of a boy king].

Control of the currency continued to be retained in the hands of central government throughout this period [differing significantly to the coinage on the continent, which was controlled by feudal barons and church authorities]. The changing of the dies at regular intervals enabled the exchequer to raise revenues, and periodic demonetisation of old coin types helped to maintain the currency in a better state than that abroad. Although silver pennies of this reign, especially the Two-line type often circulated undersize and underweight, despite the best efforts of the government to prevent this.

Sources : EMC/SCBI database website. Books : Anglo-Saxon England. Frank Stenton. Coins of England and the United Kingdom. Spink. English Hammered Coinage, Volume One. J.J. North. Coinage of the Tenth Century. Blunt, Lyon, Stewart.

Posted by dragonbloodaxe on 19/05/2007.
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IV.IV Offa and the coinage of the Kentish kings.

A Research Paper.

In AD 764 king ◊ffa of Mercia became Overlord of Kent, having deposed the provincial king Sigered of West Kent, and the reigning monarch king Eanmund of Kent. Later the same year ◊ffa was at Canterbury with archbishop Bregowine and king Heaberht of Kent, a local noble he had raised to kingship. Whilst there he made a re-grant of an estate to Eardvulf, bishop of Rochester, previously granted and confirmed by the lately deposed Kentish monarchs.

More importantly whilst at Canterbury ◊ffa granted king Heaberht the right to issue the new broad-flan silver pennies in his own name. These had been minted under ◊ffa in London since the recent coinage reforms of AD 760, or earlier, which replaced the smaller, thicker sceat coinage with the broader, thinner continental-style denarius.

The Canterbury moneyer Eoba was the first to be awarded the right to coin the pennies of king Heaberht, and by extension those of king ◊ffa also. Eoba initially employed the same reverse motif on the coins of both kings, the design of four pelleted annulets joined to form a cross, with annulet centre containg a pellet or cross of/and pellets. The positive/negative image contained the moneyers name in the angles of the cross. This motif probably represented the wounds of Christ, and was used extensively on the pre-reform coinage.

Heaberht was a dependant king. He issued charters that were confirmed by ◊ffa and had little authority of his own to make major descisions. His adoption of the new coinage and the rights of the moneyers to produce it would certainly have been proclaimed by royal charter. Attached to this would have been the polished Latin confirmation of king ◊ffa and the Mercian dignitaries. Unfortunately no English charters referring to the coinage have survived from ◊ffa's era. The single extant coin of king Heaberht of Kent was astutely purchased in Rome by Christopher Blunt many years ago, and is now housed in the British museum.

In AD 765 king Heaberht died. Later the same year the provincial king Egcberht II was promoted by ◊ffa to the rule of Kent. He was afforded the same rights as Heaberht regarding the minting of pennies in his own name. His earliest coins were also produced at Canterbury by Eoba. The reverse motif is identical to those of his predecessor and Overlord. The obverses of all of Egcberht's coins, and that of Heaberht, employ the same monogram of Rex within a circle, having the name of the monarch around.

The moneyer Eoba enjoyed the patronage of king ◊ffa. His career was long and prosperous, coining many different designs for the Mercian king. He also coined for the Kentish kings and exclusively for ◊ffa's wife Cynðryth. To round off a distinguished working life approaching forty years duration he was employed by ◊ffa's successor Cœnwulf to coin the Tribrach Moline type at Canterbury. Eoba's name does not appear on any Group II coinage of Cœnwulf after AD 805, and he coins only the early three-line Tribrach Moline type, and not the slightly later double Tribrach type. These types were coined c. 796-805, and if we surmise that both types were coined for an equal period during that time, then we can place Eoba's death between c. 796 and c. 800. Probably nearer to 796 as few coins of the type are known in his name.

Another Canterbury moneyer with a highly distinguished career under ◊ffa was Babba. His coinage for ◊ffa was both prolific and varied. He also coined for Egcberht II and like his contempory Eoba, ended with Cœnvulf's three-line Tribrach Moline type, revealing the length of his working life to be similar to that of Eoba, at around 35-40 years. His early coins bear the designs of crosses in various forms, with the moneyers name in the angles. Those he coined for Offa bear striking similarities to the coins he struck for Egcberht II. It is probable that Babba also issued coinage for Heaberht of Kent, as his coins of the mid 760's are stylistically related to those of Eoba, betraying a close working relationship which may have begun under the earlier Kentish king.

The only other known moneyer linking the coinage of ◊ffa to that of the Kentish kings during his own lifetime is a man called Udd. His designs are again varied, if limited, under ◊ffa, with a single type minted for Egcberht II, the Floral Scroll type with the moneyers name across the field. Although this type was issued for a considerable length of time. A close scrutiny of the Floral Scroll issue reveals that the cross and scrollwork is actually a stylised Mercian omega symbol, with crossbar and pellets. The omega symbol is common to Mercian coinage of the period, and is present on at least one type of penny of each of the dependant and client kings issuing their coinage under Mercian authority. The closest parallel with the crossed omega is perhaps that on the coins of bishop Eadberht of London, with king ◊ffa, where it appears unmistakably, if stylistically different. Some authorities have identified the moneyer Udd with the London moneyer Dud, but following a comparison of styles I must agree with Ian Stewart in pronouncing that the coins are too dissimilar to be the work of the same man. Udd and Dud are separate moneyers working in different mints, indeed in different countries. Dud also works in a later period during the reign of ◊ffa.

A small number of other moneyers are thought to have coined for ◊ffa in the 760's. It is not impossible that one or more of these may have also worked for the Kentish kings.

I am of the steadfast opinion that one day a coin of king Heaberht of Kent bearing the Mercian omega symbol will be discovered.

When ◊ffa died in AD 796 he controlled the London mint in Mercia directly, the Canterbury mint in Kent directly, the East Anglian mint directly and the Wessex mint as Overlord. The only mint in England that he did not effectively control was the York mint in Northumbria, although his daughter was married to king Æthelred I. His own coinage was minted at various times at each of the first three mints mentioned. We do not know if other mints existed at this time but ◊ffa would certainly have controlled any mints within his territories.

The original die motif of Eoba, perhaps representing the wounds of Christ. Shown here on a coin of Offa of Mercia [EMC/SCBI database].

The stylised Mercian crossed omega symbol can be seen to good effect on this coin of Egcberht II of Kent [EMC/SCBI database].

Sources : Wikipedia website. Anglo-Saxon Charters website. Timeline of Anglo-Saxon England website. Christopher Blunt : Post war years and his contribution to Anglo-Saxon numismatics. Marion Archibald. EMC/SCBI database website. Books : Anglo-Saxon England. F.M. Stenton. Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Anne Savage Ed. Iconography of early Anglo-Saxon Coinage. Anna Gannon. Catalogue Of English Coins in the British Museum : Anglo-Saxon, Volume One. Charles Keary. English Hammered Coinage, Volume One. J.J. North.

Please note coins shown are not from my cabinet [unfortunately !!].

Posted by dragonbloodaxe on 03/05/2007.
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IV.III The most magnificent Norman building in England.

Peterborough Cathedral is the most complete Norman building in the country, some say in Europe. Founded by Saxvulf, a Mercian noble [or as local chronicles say, king Peada] in 654, Medeshamstede Abbey was a famous early Anglo-Saxon seat of austerity and learning mentioned by Bede in his Ecclesiastical History. This Abbey suffered under the Viking attacks of the 9thc, but was refounded later as a Benedictine Abbey. The Norman abbots completely rebuilt it, [there are a few miniscule Anglo-Saxon remains, the best being the Hedda Stone, which could be part of an early Saxon shrine] and this is the fabric of the building as it appears today. Later centuries have added to the church, [the Nave ceiling, the early English West Front and the lovely delicate fan-vaulting in the Crossing] but not substantially as in other cathedrals. It was given cathedral status following the Dissolution of the Monasteries [and this deed is on display in the Cathedral]. All in all this is an awe-inspiring building, with complex Norman carvings and decoration in abundance.

I would certainly recommend a visit to this Cathedral. Unusually for English Cathedrals it is FREE to enter this Cathedral and Precincts. But it must be remembered that as well as being a museum of stonework and all, through the ages, this is also a House of God.

NO ONE SHOULD EVER HAVE TO PAY MONEY TO ENTER THE HOUSE OF GOD. Voluntary donations are willingly given. Fixed entrance charges are unacceptable.

My eleven year old son Daniel visited Peterborough Cathedral with me recently. He writes :

For the first time in my life I visited a cathedral. I never knew they were so huge !! I quite liked the Hedda or Monk Stone, which was one of the four remains of the Anglo-Saxon church. The outside of the Cathedral is dirty in parts, due to pollution from cars and possibly some fire damage. Most of the outside Norman doors are decorated with 'Dogtooth pattern' around the outside of the frame. I really enjoyed my trip to Peterborough Cathedral.

The early Anglo-Saxon Hedda or Monk Stone. Believed by some to be a monument to those killed in Viking raids, but probably of an earlier period.
The majestic West Front. Unfortunately the other half was covered with scaffolding.
The monolithic Norman pillars of the Nave, looking west.
Daniel standing in lavishly decorated Norman doorway.
Myself standing in the same doorway. Photo taken by Dan.
Norman archways and arcading on Norman gateway into the Cathedral Precincts ....... and Dan.

Please click on above pics to enlarge.

Posted by dragonbloodaxe on 15/04/2007.
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IV.II Early Medieval Hammered Coinage : an update to my ebay Group.

This week I have made some changes to my ebay Forum Group Early Medieval Hammered Coinage.

I felt that the Group was becoming stuck in a rut, and apparently I was not alone in this opinion judging by the amount of members who recently visited but did not post or submit pics etc.. !! I had not updated posts or published announcements or anything else for quite a while, being somewhat preoccupied with this site and my current researches.

I have now updated certain of the Discussions, and branched two of them off in other directions. Another two, with no replies for 12 months+ are now closed off, so that replies are no longer allowed. Thanks are due to the new members who have recently submitted posts.

Photo Albums now contain much clearer scans rather than pics with my trademark plywood background. Thanks also to the members who have recently posted photos for moderation [unfortunately these cannot be posted straight into an album - I have to OK them ~ this is an ebay rule] to be included in the revamped albums.

There are no new Announcements as yet. The two extant ones refer to fake coinage and my website.

I have added all of this years meetings of the BNS [of which I am a member] to the, previously empty, Events Calendar. I hope to do likewise soon with the meets of the RNS, and some other events. Anyone who has any info on upcoming coin fairs, auctions, events etc... please feel free to post them for everyone's benefit.

I have added another Poll to the forum, and invited members to vote ~ although so far mine is the only vote registered !! The Poll asks "Who had the biggest influence on Anglo-Saxon numismatics over the last fifty years ? Michael Dolley, Christopher Blunt or Someone else ?

I should end by saying something about members and membership. When I started my group in Feb '06, I was already a member of the only other Medieval coin related ebay forum, English Hammered Coins, which covers the whole spectrum of hammered coins. That group, which is still going, has been active considerably longer than my own ~ and considering that we were only half the size of the EHC group at our conception, we are now only THREE members behind them, with a very healthy 35 members - to Richard's [leader of EHC] 38. But this members tally is only a bit of fun.....

You must be a registered member of ebay to use the Group Forums, but aside from this anyone who has an interest in Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Norman coinage may join us if they are so inclined, and indeed are warmly welcomed. The group is a public one [some are private], and so no permission is required to join. I look forward to welcoming more new members in due course.

Early Medieval Hammered Coinage may be found here http://groups.ebay.co.uk/clubforum.jspa?forumID=300006752

Posted by dragonbloodaxe on 12/04/2007.
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IV.I A visit to Canterbury.

Recently I was lucky enough to be able to take a short break in Canterbury, one of our most historical cities. The history of Canterbury is known from pre-Roman times [the name Canterbury comes from the Iron Age Cantii tribe] through Roman occupation, Anglo-Saxon settlement, Viking attacks, Norman conquest and much more, up to the present day. The Cathedral is of course world famous and is the mother church of the Anglican faith. There are many other historical buildings in evidence around the city. The conversion of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England began here in 597, with St. Augustines mission to king Æðelberht of Kent, and the ruins of the abbey he founded are tranquil and serene. Evidence of older Christian buildings than the Cathedral [598] and the Abbey [597] is found in St. Martins church, a quiet and unimposing building, documented back to c.580 but mentioned by Bede as being built during the Roman era. I took pictures of some of these historical buildings relevant to my era of interest, up to c.1200.

Photos [Please click on each to enlarge] :

The Twin West Towers. Canterbury Cathedral.
The Central Tower, "Bell Harry". Canterbury Cathedral.
St. Anselms Norman Chapel. Canterbury Cathedral.
Lavish Romanesque stonework on the upper level of the Norman Tower. Canterbury Cathedral.
St. Augustines Abbey Ruins, with the Cathedral in the background.
The Chapel of St. Pancras. Dating from the early 7thc. Part of St. Augustines Abbey Ruins.
Abbot Vulfric's Rotunda. Late Anglo-Saxon foundations. St. Augustines Abbey.
St. Martin's Church. The chancel [the Roman church] looking east.
Square-headed Roman and round-headed Saxon doorways together in the chancel of St. Martins Church.
Bastion on the Roman/Medieval city walls, with the Cathedral Tower in the background.

Canterbury was the most prolific mint throughout most of the Anglo-Saxon period, continuing into the Norman and medieval eras. Archbishops of Canterbury coined pennies in their own right from the mid Eighth century to the early decades of the Tenth century, beginning with Offa's Archbishop, Jænberht [766-792] and concluding with Plegmund [890-923] under Aelfred and Eadward the Elder [see post III.VII for an example of a Plegmund penny struck at Canterbury].

Posted by dragonbloodaxe on 25/03/2007.
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IV. The February meeting of The British Numismatic Society.

27 / 02 / 07.

Well I finally managed to find time [in my very busy schedule of caring for my gran and trying to be a good husband and dad to my wife and four kids !!] to actually attend in person a meeting of the British Numismatic Society [BNS]. I had wanted to attend for some time, and had made arrangements on several occasions in the past, but it was not to be.... until last month.

I had been corresponding for several months, by post, with a very nice gentleman called Tony Holmes, who has recently retired as Society librarian. He and I discussed various aspects of numismatics and the activities of the society. Tony was most helpful with small details like what to wear. He even sent me a hand-drawn map of the streets around Woburn Square, on which the Warburg Institute stands. This is where most of the BNS meetings are held, usually on the last Tuesday of each month. Tony had asked me to meet him early, before the meeting so that he could show me around the library, housed in the basement of the aforementioned building.

So I set off from my home town of Melton Mowbray and caught a midday train to London, via Peterborough. After an uneventful journey I arrived at Kings Cross station, and this marked my first visit to London as well as my first BNS meet. After quite some time spent strolling around the streets of London in pouring rain trying to follow Tony's map [which was accurate I hasten to add] I gave up, had a hot sausage roll to eat and jumped in the nearest cab. Five minutes and a labrynth of side streets later I was standing outside the Warburg. I showed my membership card to the lady at reception and was duly admitted.

The receptionist kindly directed me to the library. But first I decided to explore the Classical and Folklore library across from the numismatic library. So half an hour spent in there meant less time in the library I had come to visit. But finally I walked into the library that is shared by members of the British and Royal Numismatic Societies. Tony was there to greet me, and very kindly walked me through the layout of the different sections [on horrible rolling shelving], and as a priveledged newcomer afforded me the rare honour of a look inside the locked ancient numismatic book section. This was an eye-opener, containing books from as far back as the XVIth century. All in Latin of course......and the stylised coin drawings not always as accurate as they could be !! The illustrated coin cabinets of the different eras held my attention, and were far more sumptuous than my own, which is a specialist cabinet but simply practical. Tony then disappeared to conclude a coin transaction and so I browsed until the meeting began.

At the appointed time I followed a couple of the members in the library upstairs to the lecture room and sat down. The formalities were of course dealt with first, new members, news etc... I knew in advance that the subject of tonights meeting was The Coinage of the Iceni - new information from a die study of the complete coinage. By a very learned specialist called John Talbot. Now this is not really my cup of tea, (not being my specialist era of c.780-1159 [or from the inception of the penny to the end of king Stephens coinage]) but listening to his ideas and methodology I began to plan where certain aspects might be applied to early medieval coinage. At the end of the day it was a little deep for me but interesting in the areas that I understood. At least I didnt fall asleep unlike around half of the older folk in the room !!!

Once John had finished his talk, the lights came up and I was able to look around properly. I spotted one or two famous numismatists like Philip de Jersey and Stewart Lyon, and there must have been others. I also met [the aptly named!!] Charles Farthing, the former membership secretary, and talked with him briefly. I think I will introduce myself around a bit at the next meet I am able to attend. I then spotted the meeting Chairman Mark Blackburn walking in my direction, and decided to introduce myself to him. Dr. Mark Blackburn is a well known numismatist and author, keeper of coins and medals at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, and since 2004 President of the BNS. He is an acknowledged expert in medieval coinage.

Mark said he was pleased to welcome new members, and when I told him my name, he recognised me from my correspondence with Mike Bonser, another respected numismatist. I had been discussing my website with Mike and he had contacted Mark to try to arrange a visit for us both to the Coin Room of the Fitzwilliam. In doing so Mike had mentioned my website, and I was gobsmacked to learn that Mark had already seen it... not only that but he was most interested in one of my extremely rare fragments. Both of these experts had praised my website [I was very pleased to hear this in person from Mark] and offered constructive criticisms. Changes have since been made [please see previous post III.IX] and these have been positively recieved. Mark had spotted my Æðelbert "Floriated Cross" fragment and was most interested to hear that it had been found with the only other specimen to come to light in the last ten years or so, a whole coin sold by Andy Gillis. Mark had seen my coin on ebay and then lost track of it, but wondered for some time whether it was a single find or not. I have since sent Mark clear scans of the coin for inclusion on his EMC database, which I use frequently and support 100%.

Dr. Blackburn then introduced me to Rory Naismith, a council member and student at the Fitzwilliam, who had also viewed my site and discovered my unique ◊ffa fragment penny of the moneyer BABBA [The ◊ffa without a North designation, in the "Kings of Mercia" gallery]. He wanted to add this coin to his Corpus of the coinage of king Offa at the Fitzwilliam. I gladly gave permission and have since recieved a copy of the relevant page of the Corpus, featuring my coin and an acknowledgement of its place withinin my cabinet [D. Darrington Collection]. The three of us chatted until Rory had to leave to catch his train. Mark then invited me to sit down with him and discuss my specialist eras, coins and collections, methodology, research, websites and the BNS. I thoroughly enjoyed this twenty minutes or so, to be able to chat face to face with someone I have admired and respected for some time. But alas I soon had to leave to catch my own train.....or be stuck in London overnight !! Mark shook my hand and hoped to see and talk to me again. I have since spoken to him by email and hope to do so again in person soon. I also promised to register all of my coins with the EMC, something I started to do last year and should have kept up but did not. Incidentally Mark also said of my collection that he recognised many of the coins previous to their inclusion in my cabinet, and it was good to know where they are now.

All in all it was a most interesting experience, which I hope to repeat at the earliest opportunity. Having your collection and collecting methods compared to those of the late Christopher Blunt, perhaps the most influential numismatist of the last hundred years, and a leading expert on Anglo-Saxon coinage, is praise indeed. And I am humbled by it.

a) The Floriate Cross fragment. b) The unique ◊ffa.

I would like to thank the British Numismatic Society, Mark Blackburn, Tony Holmes and all the people I met at the meeting and have met through the Club.

Posted by dragonbloodaxe on 23/03/2007.
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III.IX Some recent site changes.

I have not posted a blog for well over a month now as I have recently bought a new scanner for my computer in order to submit better and clearer coin pics. To this end I have changed the gallery pics and the site photos to much clearer scans. My trademark plywood photo background is no more !! I have created several new galleries and deleted old ones that are no longer relevant. Early and Late Saxon penny galleries have now been replaced by regional Saxon galleries, for example ~Kings of Mercia~ This gallery contains all the pennies from my cabinet that were minted under the native Mercian kings from ◊ffa to Ceolvulf II. There are also galleries for pennies of East Anglia, Wessex and All England. I have taken the Norman coinage out of the mixed gallery, which it had outgrown some time ago, and given it a deserved gallery of its own. The mixed gallery does still exist. It contains the coinage that I have only a few examples of, namely Sceats, Stycas, Viking coinage and Episcopal issues coined by the church.

After recieving constructive criticism from coinage experts in my field, I have tried to rectify their main concerns. Previously I had only pictured one side of each coin that I posted in the galleries and on the blog page. I have now replaced all of the former photos with clear scans featuring both sides of each coin, both in the galleries and on the blog page. Another problem highlighted was that it was not immediately apparant how to access the text for each pic in the galleries. I have therefore posted simple instructions on how to do this within each gallery synopsis. Click on the desired pic and select the ZOOM function. The text for the chosen pic will be displayed beneath it.

There have recently been some problems on my site with disappearing and blurred blog photos. These faults were down to the site provider, and were common to this and other sites. Customer services were extremely helpful as always but could not prevent all of the faults recurring. To combat this I have removed the vast majority of blog pictures and photos, keeping only a minimal amount to break up the monotonous sea of bland posts !! I have had to change the site pages somewhat also as a result of these issues. As can be imagined, taking into account all of this, I have had my work cut out over the last few weeks..... Please note that I have removed my FOR SALE page, and will no longer sell directly through my site. As an alternative please view my BUY, SELL, TRADE or INTEREST page for an indication of how to do each of these things in regard to myself and the coins of my cabinet.

Special thanks to : Dr. Mark Blackburn and Mike Bonser. For viewing my site and providing the constructive criticism.

Posted by dragonbloodaxe on 10/03/2007.
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III.VIII The Line of Wessex.

This post will show all of the monarchs of Wessex and [from the reign of Æðelstan] England from 786 to 1016. During this era silver pennies [and occasionally smaller denominations] were coined by most of these rulers in their own names, making them [almost always] readily identifiable. Only unattributable sceat coinage was minted in Wessex prior to the reign of Beorhtric, and this period [although not the minting of silver pennies] ends with the rule of the Danish line of Cnut and his sons, beginning in late 1016. Two of these monarchs, Æðelbald and Eadmund Ironside, probably did mint pennies, but these are unknown [or unrecognised at least] to numismatics at the present time and so it is said that they have "no known coinage".

The coinage of these kings is shown through scans of coins from my cabinet. These are below the synopsis for each king.

BEORHTRIC 786-802. Dependant on Offa of Mercia, married one of his daughters. Minted his extremely rare coinage with permission of Offa late in reign. Usurper. NO EXAMPLES IN MY CABINET.

ECGBERHT 802-839. Forced into exile by Offa. Returned to England and crowned king of Wessex 802. Defeated the almighty Mercians at the battle of Ellendune in 825. Northumbria accepted his overlordship in 829, and he was named Bretwalda, or ruler of Britain. Extensive coinage, all of it very rare. Father of Æðelvulf.

ÆÐELVULF 839-855. His reign was characterised by Viking invasions. He was a highly religious man, who gave generously to Rome and the English church. A wealthy and wise ruler, he pronounced that the oldest living child of the line would succeed to the throne. Extensive coinage, much of it rare. Father of the following four rulers of Wessex including Ælfred the Great.

ÆÐELBALD 858-860. Plotted against Æthelwulf whilst the latter was away in Rome. Took the throne in 858. Died in 860. Brother of Æthelberht. NO KNOWN COINAGE.

ÆÐELBERHT 860-866. Very little known about reign. Succeeded at age 30 or so. Had to battle the Vikings in his Capital city of Winchester. Very rare coinage. Brother of Æthelred I.

ÆÐELRED I 866-871. An affable and devoutly religious man, Fought the battle of Ashdownin against the Vikings in 870. Very rare coinage. Brother of Ælfred. NO EXAMPLES IN MY CABINET.

ÆLFRED [THE GREAT] 871-899. Defeated the Danes decisively at the battle of Eddington. Partitioned England to form the Danelaw. He constructed a large fleet of ships, was a scholar, promoted education and codified the laws. Extensive coinage, much of it rare. Father of Eadweard the Elder.

EADWEARD THE ELDER 899-924. A military leader, he reconquered all of the Danelaw south of the Humber river. Extensive coinage, some of it rare. Father of Æðelstan and Eadmund.

ÆÐELSTAN 924-939. A great warrior, he defeated a combined force of Scots, Welsh and Vikings at the battle of Brunanburh in 938. He was the first king to be crowned on the Kings Stone at Kingston-Upon-Thames. Rare coinage. Brother of Eadmund. NO EXAMPLES IN MY CABINET.

EADMUND 939-946. Fought with his brother at Brunanburh. Murdered by an outlaw at his own feast. Coinage of silver pennies. Brother of Eadred.

EADRED 946-955. Contested Northumbria with the Viking Eric Bloodaxe. He devoted his life to God, and had a lingering physical malady which meant he was constantly oppressed by sickness and had a very weak digestion. Much silver coinage. Uncle of Eadwig and Eadgar.

EADWIG [also EDWY] 955-959. Became king at 16, he made an enemy of archbishop [St.] Dunstan. He was generous to religious foundations and died at age 20. Silver coinage. Brother of Eadgar. NO EXAMPLES IN MY CABINET.

EADGAR 959-975. Could be considered the first ruler of a united England. His wisest act was probably recalling St. Dunstan from exile. Reformed the coinage to include a portrait of the monarch in 972. Extensive coinage. Father of Eadward the Martyr and Æðelred II.

EADWARD THE MARTYR 975-978. Succeeded to the throne at age 12. Murdered at 16 by his brothers men at Corfe Castle. Rare coinage. Brother of Aethelred II.

ÆÐELRED II 978-1016. Became king at age 10. His reign was plagued by poor advice from personal favourites. Spent vast fortunes attempting to buy off the Vikings with Danegeld. Died 1016 after abandoning and re-assuming the throne in favour of Swein Forkbeard. Huge volume of coinage, most of it common. Father of Edmund Ironside. NO EXAMPLES IN MY CABINET. [difficult to obtain rarer examples]

EADMUND IRONSIDE 1016 only. A short vigorous reign with a series of brilliant military defeats against the Vikings. Beaten by Cnuts forces, a peace agreement was made. He died suddenly in November leaving Cnut to become undisputed king of England. Son of Æðelred II. NO KNOWN COINAGE.

Posted by dragonbloodaxe on 22/01/2007.
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III.VII A Mercian at the Wessex court.

Nothing is known of the early life of St. Plegmund of Canterbury [reigned 890-923]. That he was was a Mercian by birth is a matter of record. He lived at Plemstall in Cheshire, on an island known to locals as Plegmundeshamm, as a hermit monk attached to the Benedictine abbey at Chester. This before attracting the attention of king Ælfred of Wessex by virtue of his learning, and recieving his invitation to the court at Wessex [sometime before 887], along with three others renowned for their learning [bishop Wærferð of Worcester, and scholars Æðelstan and Wærwulf]. He was invited with the express intention of the furtherance of learning in accordance with the youthful Ælfreds wishes for his realm. He remained friendly with Ælfred, who called him "Plegmund, my archbishop" until Ælfred died in 899.

At Ælfreds recommendation, Plegmund was created archbishop of Canterbury by pope Stephen V in 890. In 891 [after Stephens death] Plegmund left for Rome, where he was consecrated and recieved the pallium from pope Formosus [enthroned 891, antipope]. Ælfred, having learned latin, had translated pope Gregory the Greats book On Pastoral Care [Liber Regulae Pastoralis] into Old English [Anglo-Saxon] and presented a copy to every bishop throughout the kingdom. Plegmunds own copy is preserved in the British Library. Plegmund was a signatory to a grant of land to Christ Church, Canterbury in 895 [he granted some of his own land to the church in the same year], and at a council at Chelsea in 898 king Ælfred bestowed land on him, at Queenhithe in London.

Before his death in 896, pope Formosus* sent a letter to the archbishop at Canterbury in which the English bishops were severely criticised for not continuing the work begun by Plegmund in attempting to convert the heathen Danish settlers in Mercia. He also warned that education should be encouraged so that the number of learned men in future would be adequate for the training of English bishops. This letter is extant but thought to be interpolated with later material, although the core of the text is genuine and certainly from this period.

On 8th June 900 Plegmund crowned Ælfreds son as Eadweard I [the Elder] at Kingston upon Thames. He continued to serve this king until his own death, a year before Eadweards, in 924. In 908 Plegmund consecrated the new minster at Winchester, founded by Eadweard the Elder. A number of charters with Plegmund as signatory [between 900 and 920] survive from Eadweards reign.

Plegmund reorganised the church in Wessex, increasing the number of bishoprics from two to five [Winchester, Sherborne, Wells, Crediton and Ramsbury]. Many bishoprics had become vacant due to Viking attacks and raiding, and as a result Eadweard was reluctant to fill the positions. Plegmund threatened the king with excommunication.....also threatening to place an interdict [a period where Christian religious services were prohibited, and the sacrements withheld] on the entire country. He got his way and actually consecrated SEVEN bishops in a single day in 909, five for Wessex and two for Mercia.

Archbishop Plegmund of Canterbury died on 2nd August 923. He was buried in the Cathedral, and canonised sometime later. A holy well associated with Plegmund can be seen to this day at Plemstall Lane, near to the church of St. Peter in Plemstall.

Ecclesiastical Coinage.

In common with the former archbishops of Canterbury going back to Jeanberht in the reign of Offa [759-796], Plegmund was granted the right of moneyers at the Canterbury mint in order to profit from the striking of coinage in his own name. He was in fact the last archbishop of Canterbury to coin in his own name, although the practice of ecclesiastics minting coins was not ended until the reign of Henry VIII. Other religious authorities permitted to mint coins were the archbishop of York and at least one bishop of London.

The types of coins struck by Plegmund closely follow the types of Ælfred and Eadweard. The principle type [of Class I] is the Two-Line type. This has a small cross pattee on the obverse with the archbishops title around the outer circle. PLEGMUND ARCHIEP or EPISC. The moneyers name is in two lines on the reverse divided by three cross patees. The letter O on this type is diamond-shaped ◊. These Class I coins were minted at the start of the incumbancy and continued for around five years. Many Danish imitations of this type exist, as of others.

The other two types of Class I are similar in regard to tiles and layout except N 254, which has D◊R◊ on the obverse in place of the cross [please see photo, from my cabinet], and N 255, which has XPF in place of the obverse cross.

A rare Class I D◊R◊ obverse coin of Plegmund of Canterbury. N 254.

Class II coinage is similar to Class I but has a normal letter O. These date from after 910. A final rare type has a rose formed by a cross pommee with a voided centre over a cross moline. The obverse has annulets with a cross on the reverse.

Sources : Answers.com website. Britannia Biographies websites. Catholic Online website. St. Plegmunds Well website. Books : English Hammered Coinage, Volume One. J.J. North. Coinage in Tenth-Century England. Blunt, Stewart, Lyon.

*The acts and ordinations of pope Formosus were annulled in 897, and the sentence confirmed by Sergius III in 904 when he became pope. Plegmund had been ordained by Formosus so this left him in a perilous position, as it did those ordained in turn by Plegmund. As a result of this he travelled to Rome in 908 [ostensibly to carry king Eadweards alms] in order to have his consecration validated, which it was by the new pope. Whilst in Rome he purchased some relics of St. Blaise, which he brought back to Canterbury.