A metal detectorist unearthed a unique Anglo-Saxon gold coin in a field of South Wiltshire in March 2020. This is a Gold penny of 30 Pence, weighing 4.83g. However, the coin belongs to the reign of Ecgberht, King of the West Saxons, between 802 and 839. It will be up for sale at auction on September 8 and is estimated to fetch up to £200,00.
However, the gold coin is expected to be the only late Anglo-Saxon gold penny that came into private hands. Peter Preston-Morley, the auctioneer from Dox Noonan Webb in London expressed his excitement to see such a unique coin. According to him, people did not know about the gold coins of King Ecgberht until the metal detectorist unearthed this coin.
Moreover, seven of the other eight specimens are in the British Museum and another in Lausanne. Continue reading to know more.
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The Gold Coin Founded in West Dean Is Up For Auction
The gold coin unearthed in West Dean was ideally struck at Winchester or Southampton. However, the coin features the monarch’s title around the SAXON’s monogram – ECGBEORHT REX.
Preston Morley said that this coin underwent full SEM and XRF analysis in June 2021. As per the reports, it is made of high-purity gold and consists of only 0.6% copper and 2.8% silver. Interestingly, gold of this purity is specifically soft and, thus, easy to strike. However, they are also susceptible to wear and tear.
The coin features surface marks, and they don’t look consistent with the damages that attempts of mounting it in a pendant or brooch caused. England has the record to strike just other eight gold coins between c. 630 and 1257. Perhaps these assets served as elite payments and ceremonial gifts.
Peter Preston-Morley further added that the gold coin found in West Dean portrays a ‘mancus’. This gold designation first came to light in northern and central Italy. However, it was present in England prior to the year 800.
A mancus was a precious coin whose value was equivalent to 30 current silver coins. Thus, the auctioneer believes that such a highly valuable sovereign could not be in average mint production. They ideally originated from high-status generosity or an act of royalty.
Unfortunately, records from King Ecgberht’s reign are minimal. So the auction could not identify any evident occasion to mint this coin. Well, let’s see how much this gold coin finally sells in the auction.
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