COIN

Unique ID: IOW-C803F7

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Published

Notes:

John Naylor and Martin Allen have kindly identified this coin as a new type and noted the similarities with two other types. The obverse follows Naismith (2011) type L29.2 with the inscription beginning VVIG (as opposed to VIG) around a central A; the reverse related to Naismith type L30 (North 405), Ecgberht of Wessex's 'Lundonia' type (North 584), previously thought to have been introduced following Ecgberht's short-lived take-over of London in the late 820s (Naismith 2017: 156). This discovery follows that of a 'Lundonia' coin of Ludica of Mercia (825-7) which brought a new understanding to the Ecgberht issue (Naismith 2019). The dating of the new coin of Wiglaf remains uncertain, and whether it lies before of after Ecgberht's control of London in 829-30. Both Wiglaf's and Ecgberht's coins are non-portrait type but it is unclear which issuer introduced this design. Wiglaf's 'Lundonia' penny could be considered either as directly following Ludica's issue to voice his continued control over London in the face of the threat from Wessex or as an expression of his regaining control of the city in 830.

Find of note status

This is a find of note and has been designated: National importance

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Middle
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 827
Date to: Circa AD 830

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 18 mm
Width: 12 mm
Thickness: 1 mm
Weight: 0.68 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 6th June 2021

Personal details

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Materials and construction

Primary material: Silver
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Fragment

Coin data (numismatics)

Denomination: Penny
Ruler/issuer: Wiglaf of Mercia
Mint or issue place: London
Category: Coin of the kings of Mercia 8th-9th centuries

Type: Lundonia type (Wiglaf: first or second reign; cf. Naismith L29.2a obv, L30 (Ecgberht) rev)
Obverse description: A within a beaded circle.
Obverse inscription: +VVIG[ ]EX
Reverse description: Inscription in three lines divided by beaded lines.
Reverse inscription: [ ]/DONIA/[ ]VIT
Die axis measurement: 6 o'clock
Degree of wear: Extremely worn: poor