COIN

A silver penny of Aethelred II, AD 978-1016. First hand type dating to c. AD 979-985. The obverse field is illegible, the surface having been obscured from view either by the removal of a thin surface of the flan or alternatively by a thin applied layer of solder. The obverse legend reads: + A[ET]HELRED REX A[N]G LOX. Reverse shows the hand of Providence issuing from clouds; at side A.W. (as North p.158, nos.766 & 767, fig.1). Reverse legend reads: + LIVING[ M - O] LINDCOL. Die axis is 12 o'clock. North number 766 or 767. Mint is Lincoln. The moneyer is, normalised to, Leofing. 

National Finds Advisor John Naylor comments "The moneyer is Leofing but the spelling is not one I've found so far but that said I have found LEVIG and LEOFINC so the use of the V is known. I've not found one using LIV... however" pers. comm.

It is not uncommon for coins of this approximate later Early-Medieval date to be altered so as to transform them into coin brooches or badges. It is possible that the obverse field has been damaged due to the application of a soldered on separate component, that has since become detached, thus resulting in the illegible area - a scarred shadow of the now missing brooch attachment part. If it is the case that this coin was reused as an artefact, this object would need to be considered as potential treasure under the definition of treasure according to the Treasure Act 1996.

Repurposed later Early-Medieval coins include the following examples: KENT-1012A8 & NMS-B43881 (which shows a shadow probably related to the presence of now missing solder), CAM-CE2AB5, CAM-1FB9C5, SUSS-E28AA4, PAS-795917, HAMP-0F4407, HAMP-5958CE, IOW-217104, IOW-A6DB92, SOM-4BC86B, ESS-ACD93C, WILT-C94353, ESS-05217E, BERK-39FCC8, BM-838B95, HAMP-251EC5, HAMP-94D5C6, SUR-8F4A0C & DENO-8F4358. It should be noted that where evidence allows a favoured side to be determined on these coin brooches, it is common for the reverse to be favoured and any applied component to be fixed to the obverse surface of the coin. The coin described here does not have any evidence of gilding, however it is the obverse field of the coin that has damage and this may support the interpretation of this being a damaged coin brooch rather than simply being a damaged coin.

Images of this coin have been shown to Dr John Naylor (Ashmolean Museum & National Finds Advisor), Dr Gareth Williams (British Museum) and Drs Martin Allen & Richard Kelleher (Fitzwilliam Museum). Additionally Dr Allen & Dr Kelleher have examined the coin in person along with Susie Pancaldo. Dr Allen confirmed that the reverse can be die matched to Mossop, H.R. plate III, No.9. After consideration Dr Kelleher and Dr Allen do not believe, on balance of probability, that this coin was ever altered into a brooch or badge. Dr Kelleher stated that at this time c.98% of adaptations involved the riveting of additional parts to the coin. The absence of any sign of riveting, nor trace of gilt on a coin of this date and size makes the potential adaptation extremely unlikely (pers.comm.). Susie Pancaldo studied the coin under a microscope. She could not rule out that the substance was solder but the possible adhesion of corrosion from another artefact in contact with the coin before discovery was also suggested as an equal possibility. Further scientific testing may possibly conclude the uncertainty but to date there seems low likelihood of this being a coin altered into an artefact and high probability that the obverse of a coin is fortuitously damaged.

Also see Kelleher, R. THE RE-USE OF COINS IN MEDIEVAL ENGLAND AND WALES C.1050-1550: AN INTRODUCTORY SURVEY.

Williams, G. 2001 COIN-BROOCHES OF EDWARD THE CONFESSOR AND WILLIAM I. In British Numismatic Society Journal (https://www.britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital%20BNJ/pdfs/2001_BNJ_71_7.pdf)

After much consideration the Finds Liaison Officer was advised by the Treasure Team to process this item as a coin and not as an altered coin artefact. Therefore, the coin has not been processed as potential Treasure as defined by the Treasure ACt 1996.

Coin references

No coin references available.