+ DAVE'S : RARE : COINS

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.
• dragonbloodaxe's site