| Spink > Auction 23005 | Auction date: 12 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 316 Price realized: 480 GBP (Approx. 603 USD / 559 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: The 'Haddenham' Collection of English Coins | An Academic Reference Collection of Trevor Ashmore Anglo-Saxon Forgeries from the Haddenham Collection (32) | , An Ashmore Copy of Kent, Heaberht (fl. 765), Penny, Canterbury, Eoba, + HEABERHT, Rx monogram at centre, rev. E-O-B-A in angles of voided cross pommée, [Spink XRF: 41.44% Ag], 2.29g, 12h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 837-010; Finn 118; Vide: Lord Grantley, NumChron, 1900, p. 148 = C E Blunt, BNJ 1952, pp. 52-57 = cf. SCBI 67 [BM], 661 = cf. North 198; = cf. Spink 873 [for original]), the unique original safely housed in the National collection since 1900; acquired 'IF', 1986 - £25, , An Ashmore Copy of Kent, Cuthred (798-807), Group I, Type Ci, Penny, Canterbury, Sæbeorht, CVÐ-RED REX in angles of tribrach with limbs terminating in circles, centre circle containing tribrach with pellets in angles, rev. + SE-BE-HRT in angles of single tribrach moline, pellets at bases and terminals, centre circle containing smaller tribrach, [Spink XRF: 47.00% Ag], 1.85g, 11h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 876-060/070; Finn 13; cf. Spink 876 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Archbishops of Canterbury, Ceolnoth (833-870), Group III, 'Inscribed Cross' Type, Penny, concocted prior to October 1972, Canterbury, Leofing, CEOLNOÐ ARCHIEP, tonsured bust facing, breaking inner circle, rev. + LIABIN CG MO N E T A, within and in angles of cross, [Spink XRF: 91.15% Ag], 2.03g, 12h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 894-010/040; Finn 14 ~ attributed to 'A Series of Sterling Silver Copies made by Period Coins'; cf. Spink 894 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Mercia, Offa (757-796), 'Heavy Coinage' Penny, concocted before August 1969, Canterbury, Æthelnoth, BERHTVLF REX commencing at 8 o'clock, diademed and draped bust right breaking inner circle, rev. + BYRNVALD commencing at 6 o'clock, around central circle containing alpha and omega monogram, [Spink XRF: 90.75% Ag], 1.73g, 12h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 907-160/210 - "Shown to BM, 10 July 1972, by T. Ashmore, Notts - "He must know manufacturer as his advert 'coin' is of same style" - This forgery is based on the coin shown in Seaby's Standard Catalogue - One of a series of sterling silver copies made by 'Period Coins'; Finn 16; cf. Spink 907 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Mercia, Ceolwulf I (821-823), Penny, 'Portrait' Type, Wodel, CEOLVVLF REX M, diademed and draped bust right, rev. WOD-EL MON-ETA across three lines, [Spink XRF: 90.94% Ag], 1.87g, 3h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 927; Finn 19; cf. Spink 927 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1991 - £30, , An Ashmore Copy of Mercia, Wiglaf, Second Reign (c. 830-840), Penny, London, Rædmund, + VVIGLAF REX M, plain cross with pellet in each angle, rev. O | + REDMA | h, in three lines, the D and h in pelleted lunettes above and below, [Spink XRF: 46.45% Ag], 2.06g, 2h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 934-030; Finn 22; cf. Spink 934), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Mercia, Berhtwulf (840-852), Penny, London, Beornweald, BERHTVLF REX commencing at 8 o'clock, diademed and draped bust right breaking inner circle, rev. + BYRNVALD commencing at 6 o'clock, around central circle containing alpha and omega monogram, [Spink XRF: 47.08% Ag], 2.07g, 11h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 935; Finn 23; cf. Spink 935 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Mercia, Ceolwulf II (874-879), Penny, 'Portrait' Type, Leofweald, CIOLVVLF REX, diademed and draped bust right, crescent headdress, rev. LI-AF-VA-LD in angles of cross, [Spink XRF: 49.16% Ag], 1.65g, 12h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 944; Finn 24; cf. Spink 944 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of East Anglia, Eadwald (796-800), Penny, concocted prior to October 1972, Ipswich [?], Lul/Lulla, + EADWA | LD | REX in three lines, rev. + LVL in voids of quadrilobe, rosettes in angles, [Spink XRF: 89.65% Ag], 1.83g, 12h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 947-090/120 ~ attributed to 'A Series of Sterling Silver Copies made by Period Coins'; Finn 25; cf. Spink 947 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of East Anglia, Aethelweard (c. 840-855), Penny, Ipswich [?], Æthelhelm, EÐELPEARD REX, short cross, crescents in angles, rev. + ÆÐELHELIH, short cross, wedges in angles, [Spink XRF: 46.86% Ag], 1.98g, 11h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 953-010; Finn 27; cf. Spink 953 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Viking Kingdom of York (895-920), 'St. Peter' Penny, + SCIIE - TII MO, divided by sword, small cross pattée above and below, rev. + VII •: VIICIT : hammer cross divided by a pellet, [Spink XRF: 46.77% Ag], 1.85g, 8h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1015-010/020; Finn 33; cf. Spink 1015 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Eric Bloodaxe, Second Reign (952-954), Penny, York, Aculf, ERIC - REX in two lines, divided by sword, rev. + ACVLF MON, small cross pattée, [Spink XRF: 46.67% Ag], 1.97g, 2h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1030-010/020; Finn 36; cf. Spink 1030 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Wessex, Ecgberht, as King of the Mercians (802-839), Penny, c. 829, London, + ECGBERHT REX M, short cross potent, rev. + LVN | DONIA | CIVIT in three beaded lines, [Spink XRF: 46.81% Ag], 2.02g, 12h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1036-010/020; Finn 38; cf. Spink 1036 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Wessex, Æthelberht (858-866/68), 'Floriate Cross' Type, Penny, Canterbury, Oshere, + ÆÐELBEARHT REX, double-diademed and draped bust right, rev. + OSHERE MONETA, floriated cross fourchée over lobed-saltire, [Spink XRF: 47.15% Ag], 1.89g, 5h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1054-010/020; Finn 39; cf. Spink 1054 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Wessex, Alfred the Great (871-899), 'Monogram' Type, Penny, London, Tilewine, AD 880-883, AELFRX-ED REX, diademed and draped bust right, rev. LONDONIA monogram, trefoil to left, small cross to right, dividing TILEVINE | MONETA, [Spink XRF: 46.97% Ag], 1.73g, 4h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1062-080; Finn 41; cf. Spink 1062 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Wessex, Alfred the Great (871-899), Penny, 'Guthrum Type', Winchester, Wulfræd, ÆL FRE DRE small cross pattée, rev. VVLF +++ RED in two lines divided by row of cross pattées, [Spink XRF: 45.74% Ag], 1.88g, 3h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1067-040; Finn 43v1; cf. Spink 1067 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Wessex, Alfred the Great (871-899), Penny, Gloucester, ÆLFRL.ED X diademed and draped bust right, rev. ÆT GLEAPA, tau connected at its extremities by beaded lines, [Spink XRF: 47.27% Ag], 1.82g, 4h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1064-010/020; Finn 42; cf. BM 1838.0710.28 = [Cuerdale Hoard~ BM XX ~ cf. Spink 1064 for original]), the unique original coin the only known evidence of a Mint at Gloucester prior to the reign of Aethelstan; acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Wessex, Alfred the Great (871-899), Penny, concocted prior to March 1970, Exeter, + AEL | FRED RE | X SAXO | NVM in four lines, rev. EXA vertically, flanked by trefoil of pellets, [Spink XRF: 79.40% Ag], 1.76g, 12h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1070-020 [Reported 19 March 1970]; Finn 44; cf. Spink 1070 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Edward the Elder (899-924), 'Exceptional Issues', North Western Issues, Penny, Chester [?], Wulfgar, + EADVVEARD REX, small cross pattée, rev. building, VVLFGAR and cross below, [Spink XRF: 47.20% Ag], 1.77g, 5h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1075-010/030; Finn 46; cf. Spink 1075 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Edward the Elder (899-924), 'Exceptional Issues' ~ Floral Type, Penny, East Anglian Mint, Heremod, + EADWEARD REX, small cross pattée, rev. floral spray motif, HEREMOD and rosette in exergue below, [Spink XRF: 47.22% Ag], 1.90g, 8h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1078-030/050 - 'Spuriously claimed to have been found with 7 others in Portsmouth in 1987'; Finn 49; cf. SCBI 20 [Mack], 758 = Spink 1078 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Edward the Elder (899-924), 'Exceptional Issues' ~ Floral Type, Penny, Chester, Æthelwulf, + EADWEARD REX, small cross pattée, rev. floral spray motif, ADVLF MO and small cross pattée in exergue below, [Spink XRF: 47.22% Ag], 1.97g, 6h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1079-010/030; Finn 50; cf. Spink 1079 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Wessex, Edward the Elder (899-924), 'Exceptional Issues' - Floral Type, Penny, Chester, Buga, + EADVVEARD REX, small cross pattée within inner circle, rev. BV-GA, within tendrils of floral device, [Spink XRF: 50.55% Ag], 1.98g, 5h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1079-040; Finn 51; cf. Spink 1079 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , , An Ashmore Copy of Wessex, Edward the Elder (899-924), 'Exceptional Issues', North Western Mints, 'Hand of Providence' Type, Penny, Chester [?], Eadræd, + EADVVEARD REX, small cross pattée within inner circle, rev. EA-RE | DM-MO: across field divided by hand pointing upwards, [Spink XRF: 91.30% Ag], 1.86g, 6h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1081-010 var.; Finn 52; cf. SCBI 20 [Mack], 762 = Sale I, lot 119 [for unique original]; cf. Spink 1081 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Wessex, Edward the Elder (899-924), 'Exceptional Issues', North Western Mints, 'Tower' Type, Penny, concocted prior to September 1974, Chester [?], Cuthbeorht, + EADWEARD REX, small cross pattée, rev. CV-ÐB | ER-HT across field, divided by "camp gate", rosette flanked by pellets above, [Spink XRF: 46.55% Ag], 1.96g, 3h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1082-010/040 ['First shown Spink, September 1974']; Finn 53; cf. Spink 1082 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Wessex, Edward the Elder (899-924), 'Exceptional Issues', North Western Mints, 'Tower' Type, Penny, Chester [?], Eadmund, + EADVVEARD REX, small cross pattée, rev. EA-DV | M - ND divided by camp gate, [Spink XRF: 48.42% Ag], 1.94g, 10h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1083-040; Finn 54; cf. Spink 1083 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Aethelstan (924-939), 'Two Line' Type, North Eastern Mints, Penny, York, Ragnald/Ragnwald, + AEÐELSTAN REX, small cross pattée, rev. REGN | +++ | ALD in two lines, trefoil of pellets above and below, [Spink XRF: 46.88% Ag], 1.90g, 10h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1089-130/140; Finn 58; cf. Spink 1089), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Aethelstan (924-939), 'Exceptional Issues' ~ 'Floral Type', Penny, Warwick, Manthegn, + AEÐELSTAN REX, small cross pattée, rev. MON-ÐEGN in two lines divided by a row of three pellets, floral motifs above and below, [Spink XRF: 47.85% Ag], 1.94g, 8h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1097; Finn 59; cf. SCBI 20 [Mack], 775 = Spink 1097 [for original]), only two known of the original coin, this acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Æthelstan (924-939), 'Exceptional Issues' - Tower Type, Penny, York, Adalbert, + ÆDELSTAN REX, small cross pattée, rev. MO-N divided by Anglo-Saxon burh or tower, ADELBERT and trefoil in exergue below, [Spink XRF: 90.08% Ag], 1.77g, 5h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1100-010/030; Finn 60; cf. Spink 1100 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Dyfed, Howel Dda ap Cadell AKA Howell 'the Good' († 949/950), 'Two Line' Type, Penny, Gillaisu, + HOPLEL REX•: small cross pattée, rev. GIL+ | +++ | LYZ [retrograde] (6IL8ZYL), rosette above and below, [Spink XRF: 47.50% Ag], 1.88g, 4h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1121-010/020; Finn 62; cf. SCBI 34 [BM], 719 = cf. Spink 1121 [for unique original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Eadwig (955-959), 'Exceptional Issues', 'Hammer' Type, Penny, Oswald, EADVVIG REX, small cross pattée, rev. Thor's 'Mjolnir' or Hammer dividing OSP-ALD across field, [Spink XRF: 47.49% Ag], 1.81g, 1h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1125-010/030; Finn 63; cf. Spink 1125 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Eadgar (959-975), 'Horizontal Type', Penny, North Eastern Issues, Chester, Thorr/Thormodr, EADGAR REX, cross pattée, rev. ÐVR +++ MON, [Spink XRF: 46.97% Ag], 1.96g, 3h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1129-010/020; Finn 64; cf. Spink 1129 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , An Ashmore Copy of Eadgar (959-975), Portrait Type, Penny, East Anglian Mint, Norbert, + EADGAR REX, crude crowned and draped bust right, rev. + NORBERT MONETAI, small cross pattée, [Spink XRF: 47.09% Ag], 1.87g, 8h (Anglo-Saxon Counterfeits [2012], 1138-010/020; Finn 65; cf. Spink 1138 [for original]), acquired T Mathews, 1994 - £18, , (32). Estimate: £150 - £250 |  |
Match 1:
| Spink > Auction 23005 | Auction date: 12 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 142 Price realized: 1,500 GBP (Approx. 1,884 USD / 1,747 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: The 'Haddenham' Collection of English Coins | Mercia, Coenwulf (796-821), Group II, 'Cross and Wedges' Type, Penny, c. 807, Canterbury, Duda, recut from Cuthred dies, + COENVVLF REX M [over CVÐRED], diademed and draped 'Romanised' bust right, eyes heaven-bound in piety or divinity [?], rev. + DVDA MONETA, cross and wedges in angles, [Spink XRF: 94.60% Ag; 4.21% Cu; 0.720% Pb; 0.476% Au], 1.33g [20.53grns], 2h (Naismith C24a = EMC 1984.0006 this coin; EMC 2002.0266 [Saffron Walden], same obverse die; EMC 2014.0281 [Alfriston] same obverse die; Naismith, "Kingship and Learning on the Broad Penny Coinage of the Mercian Supremacy", in 'New Perspectives' [2011], pp. 70-71 this coin mentioned; North 344; Spink 915), light surface marks and porosity from past soil deposition, the surfaces since unfortunately 'restored' thus the retoning somewhat artificial, otherwise of good and stable fabric, the recut Cuthred obverse die beautifully clear and here paired with an evidently exhausted reverse matrix presumably also dating from the reign of Cuthred, extremely rare and of great significance in the numismatic sequencing of the Mercian hegemony in the Kingdom of Kent, one of only three recorded of this exceedingly unusual practice of 'overwriting' Heptarchic-era coinage dies at Canterbury, this being the now well-published 1983 discovery specimen. Provenance, T Mathews, by private treaty, 2000 - £620, SNC, October 1997, no. 4944* - "almost very fine, rare" - £675, SNC, February 1995, no. 99* - "almost very fine, rare" - £700, SNC, November 1993, no. 7823 - "wt. 1.363g, slightly weak obverse, otherwise about very fine, and rare, - £750 - then subsequently cleaned, BNJ Coin Register 1984, Blackburn and Bonser, no. 6 this coin, in which the following transcription is appended:, , "Found by a metal detector user in a field at Colney, near Norwich, late in 1983. The finder kindly supplied us with photographs and subseqently brought us the coin to study. Coenwulf of Mercia, Cross and Wedges type, c. 805/7-c. 810 (North 344). Canterbury, moneyer Duda. Obv. + COENVVLF/REX M Rev. +DVDA MONETA, Weight: 1.40g (21.6gr.). Die-axis: not recorded. Duda, a Canterbury moneyer, struck coins of the Tribrach type for Coenwulf and Cuthred of Kent in the period c. 798-805 and coins of the Cross-and-Wedges type for Cuthred c. 805-7, but he was not hitherto known to have struck coins of that type in the name of Coenwulf c. 805/7-810. Instead he appears to have had his own distinctive Cross-and-Quatrefoil design, the small flans indicating that they belong before c. 810. However, the new coin from Colney shows that he did briefly use the Cross-and-Wedges type under Coenwulf, before adopting the other design. A close examination of the obverse reveals that under the legend there was an earlier one which can be read +CVBRE[ ]I[ ] for +Cuthred rex / Canl (Fig. 2). The coin was probably struck from an altered die of Cuthred, rather than being overstruck on a Cross-and-Wedges coin of his, for there are no signs of overstriking on the bust or on the reverse, and there would be no reason to restrike coins which evidently belonged to the same issue. There is one other coin of this type, by the moneyer Eaba, which also appears to have been struck from an altered Cuthred die." It has been suggested that Coenwulf and Cuthred shared access to the Canterbury mint, but it seems more likely that between c. 800 or a little later and his death in 807, Cuthred operated the Canterbury mint to the exclusion of Coenwulf.'' On Cuthred's death Coenwulf resumed control of the mint, and the Duda and Eaba coins presumably belong to the period immediately following this.", , Found at Colney (Norfolk), late 1983, ~ Recorded with the Fitzwilliam Museum, ref. EMC 1984.0006 ~ , , Interestingly no Cuthred coin can be traced with the unaltered obverse die at Canterbury, but both the Saffron Walden (2002) and Alfriston (2014) finds present different reverse dies. This probably suggests that the reverse die encountered on the present specimen had almost been exhausted during the reign of Cuthred, but was still just about serviceable at the time of his demise and Coenwulf's revisions at the mint. Consequently the obverse may well have been quite new at this point of transition, to account for why Dudda decided to simply recut the obverse legends rather than scrap the matrix altogether. In comparison to the other contemporary moneyers, not only is the classical canon so heavily apparent, but as too is the hand of this portrait engraver and its stylistic similarities to that used for cutting the dies of Wærheard (cf. EMC 2013.0009). As Naismith notes: 'They were presumably struck in the immediate aftermath of the death of Cuthred in 807, and provide a good illustration of the significance attached to the name, but not the portrait that appeared on coinage at this time." , , For further reading, see: "Single Finds of Anglo-Saxon and Norman Coins", Blackburn and Bonser (BNJ 1984) - http://www.britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital%20BNJ/pdfs/1984_BNJ_54_8.pdf Estimate: £1000 - £1500 |  |
Match 2:
| Spink > Auction 23005 | Auction date: 12 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 317 Price realized: 2,300 GBP (Approx. 2,889 USD / 2,679 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: The 'Haddenham' Collection of English Coins | William I 'the Conqueror' (1066-1087), 'Profile Left' Type, Penny, 1066-1068, Romney, Wulfmær, + ILLEMV REXI [sic], crowned and draped bust left, trefoil-tipped sceptre before, rev. + PVLFMÆR ON RV, voided cross fleury, annulet at centre, 1.346g [20.68grns], 9h (SCBI 11 [Reading], 189; SCBI 12 [Ashmolean], 11-17 same dies; SCBI 20 [Mack], 1349 same dies; SCBI 30 [America], 673-677 same dies; Richard Meade [1755] lot 8f ['Rochester']; Samuel Birchall [† 1814], lot 13 ['Ex Denge Marsh'] same dies; Sir John Evans = Lockett 2836 = Glendining, 26 November 1980, lot 88 same dies; FEJ III, 1602 = Doubleday 798, same dies; Hulett XVI, 1 same dies; D M Metcalf, 'Find-Records of Medieval Coins from Gough's Camden's Britannia, NumChron XVII [1957], pp. 186-190; Peter Bagwell Purefoy, 'Fifty Pence from Romney', SNC October 1996, pp. 367-368; North 839; BMC I [Coll. no. 39-41 same dies]; Spink 1250), partially capped and crimped, otherwise pleasantly toned, a thoroughly pleasing and bold very fine, a famous "single die-pair" type undoubtedly recovered from the Denge Marsh (1739) Hoard. Provenance, T Mathews, by private treaty, 1987 - £285, Extensively checked against 'A. Public Collections and B. Other Coins' in the 1996 SNC corpus and confirmed as an example unknown to Purefoy. However, it is possible that the Spink Auction 6, 11 October 1979, lot 454 or SNC, Spetember 1984, no. 5326 listing, of which neither carry an illustration, could be Mathews own source. Nevertheless, almost certainly a stray from:, Denge Marsh (1739), Hoard , , The Denge Marsh Hoard was reconstructed from Antiquarian accounts by the late Professor Metcalf for the Numismatic Chronicle in 1957 (Vol. XVI, pp. 186-190). His opening remarks state simply: "there are quite a number of conflicting accounts of this hoard in eighteenth century literature".. However, as Purefoy adduced some four decades later from his sample size of 50 coins: "The recorded history of 40 of the coins [80%] starts in England and none of these has a pedigree that conflicts with the possibility that it came originally from the [Denge Marsh] hoard." , , As documented by the late Peter Purefoy, and corroborated by this cataloguer's separate enquiries: "In the first or Profile Left type only Canterbury, Dover and Romney are represented [for Kent]. The coins disclose that three moneyers were striking at the important mint at Canterbury at this time, and we have respectively eight, five and nine of their coins. One of the moneyers Wulfred, used at least two pairs of dies. Dover has one moneyer in evidence with four coins all from the same dies. Rochester, Sandwich and Hythe have no coins of Type I to show. But Romney is exceptional. In fact, the incentive to write this article came from the listing in the Numismatic Circular for June 1996 of a Type I Penny of Romney which is the fiftieth coin of its mint and type that I have found, all struck from the same pair of dies". , , It is now all but certain that the source of most, if not all known examples of the Profile Left type of William I Penny struck by Wulfmær at Romney must originate from the Denge Marsh trove, on account of tone, weight standard, striking quality, defects and production 'treatments' and of course, rather tellingly, the universal die matching of all known examples from a sole obverse and reverse die. Not even the recent and comprehensive Chew Valley Find (2019) presented a new example for this type, even though strikings by the moneyer Wulfmær at Romney are present for Harold II. Compellingly, a single further find has been recorded with the Fitzwilliam Museum (EMC 2019.0282) also reported as from "Denge Marsh" which may ultimately reveal the find location of this early trove. Estimate: £1400 - £2000 |  |
Match 3:
| Spink > Auction 23005 | Auction date: 12 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 159 Price realized: 6,500 GBP (Approx. 8,165 USD / 7,571 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: The 'Haddenham' Collection of English Coins | Wessex, Edward the Elder (899-924), 'Portrait' Type, Penny, c. 903-910, Winchester, Wulfræd, + EADVVEARD REX, bare head and draped bust of pleasingly fine style left, no diadem, but hair in knot at nape of neck, rev. • | VVLF+ | + • + | RED MO | • in two lines, divided by two crosses and pellet, pellet above and below, [Spink XRF: 96.32% Ag; 2.22% Cu; 1.05% Au; 0.415% Pb], 1.59g [24.54grns], 4h (Richard Meade [1755], 5b; Sharp [2017], 28; Ruding [1840], Pl. XVI, no. 4 different dies; 'A Hoard of Anglo-Saxon Coins from Rome', NumChron [1884], pp. 225-255, no. 72; Montagu I [1895], 576 = Bliss [1916], 88* = Drabble [1939], 398* = Mallinson 758* this coin; Montagu I [1895], 575 = Murdoch I [1903], 96 same obverse die; McClean [1906], 158 different dies; Roth I [1917], 65 = Ryan II [1952], 740* different dies; Carlyon-Britton [1918] 1659 = Lockett [1958], 2716 = Curwen [1959], 93 different dies; G W Shaw [1924], 564* different dies; Bruun [1925], 75* different dies; Huth [1927], 272; H A Parsons [1929], 97b; 'Rome Hoard II', Glendining, 16 May 1929, lot 39 same obverse die; 'Rome Hoard II', Glendining, 13 November 1930, lot 55 different dies; SCBI 30 [America], 327 different dies; P Finn, FPL 9 [January 1997], no. 77 same dies CTCE 44 [HT9]; North 651; BMC III [Coll. no. 91 = Pl. VII, no. 9 same obverse die]; Spink 1084), a small metal flaw before face and some peripheral striking softness to legends, with a further trace of smoothing and contact marks to cheek, otherwise a thoroughly wholesome coin with a deeply alluring 'fine style' and indeed 'true to life' portrait of 'the Elder' - the undisputed "finest known" of the five traced from this obverse die, and perhaps of any numismatic canon of the House of Wessex; with spots of red wax in fields from earlier plate impressions; with rich and attractive cabinet toning, a handsomely bold very fine / extremely fine, a great rarity and a frequent 'dead-cert' for catalogue illustration in sale dispersals, with an exemplary and entirely reconstructed pedigree since last offered in these rooms in 1984. Provenance, T Mathews, by private treaty, 1985 - £540, Rev. Arnold Mallinson, Spink 39, 6 December 1984, lot 75 - "obverse very fine but bust and hair extensively tooled, reversely extremely fine, very rare" [recte] - £340, Spink, by private treaty with Reverend Mallinson, G Drabble, Part I, Glendining, 4 July 1939, lot 398* - "in beautiful state and very rare" - £7.10.0 [Spink for stock], T Bliss, Sotheby's, 22 March 1916, lot 88* - "very fine and very rare" - £5.0.0 ["Pauyer"], H Montagu, First Portion, Sotheby's, 18 November 1895, lot 576 - "very fine and very rare" - £3.5.0 [Verity for Bliss], , , In the 1956 Seaby Bulletin, a cataloguer observed: "the bust of fine style, probably a real attempt at portraiture". To this can be added the notice that the reverse die is also to be found with the Circumscription obverse, as recovered from the Morley St. Peter and Cuerdale troves. , , The Spink cataloguer for the Mallinson sale, incidentally the last time this example would appear publicly for sale, interpreted the fine detailed incisions of the hair and furroughs of Edward's drapery as 'extensive tooling'. This is simply not shared by the present Spink cataloguer. Unsurprisingly, despite Mallinson's detailed pedigree work pre-dating even the Great War, the Drabble connection was entirely forgotten in 1984, much as Drabble had omitted the Bliss and all-to-sought-after Montagu connection. In the Mallinson catalogue, as well as in study of the Drabble and Bliss plate illustrations, no further disturbance can be noted for or surrounding the portrait. , , The mis-interpretation of tooling can be throughly dismissed by direct comparison to the 'Rome Hoard' (1929, lot 39) coin, in which same obverse die was employed. Even from the grainy plate illustration from that sale catalogue, the fine incision-work from the knot of hair to the brow of head are clearly faithful to the original die matrix. The same observation can be made in comparison to the the even clearer example from the Montagu 1895 sale (Portion I, lot 575), where this very coin happened to once sit happily as a venerable neighbour. Were further proof still required, study of the Finn FPL (January 1977, no. 77) provides a recent demonstration of this same remarkable Anglo-Saxon artistic canon. Patrick Finn, commented: "the best and most lifelike portrait I have seen on a coin of Edward the Elder. A coin to be exhibited as an example of Anglo-Saxon art.". Alas, the coin much like the present double-die matched example was a casualty of the low-ebb market and would remain on his books until (FPL 14, 1998, no. 90), but his observation undoubtedly stands the test of time., Estimate: £3000 - £4000 |  |
Match 4:
| Spink > Auction 23005 | Auction date: 12 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 154 Price realized: 1,000 GBP (Approx. 1,256 USD / 1,165 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: The 'Haddenham' Collection of English Coins | Wessex, Æthelwulf (839-858), Phase I, 'Non-Portrait' Type, Penny, c. 839-844, Canterbury, Deora, + EÐELVVLF REX, cross patteé over cross patteé saltire, rev. + DIAR MONETA, legend commencing at 9 o'clock, SAX | ONIO | RVM in three lines in centre, [Spink XRF: 77.90% Ag; 17.15% Cu; 3.31% Zn; 0.68% Os; 0.485% Au; 0.461% Pb], 1.24g [19.14grns], 5h (Naismith C97c this coin; SCBI 2 [Hunterian], 545 [legend commences at 12 o'clock, ex Coats]; SCBI 20 [Mack], 706 this coin; cf. 'Anglo Saxon Coins', Dolley and Skaare, Pl. VIII, no. 3; North 596; BMC V [Coll. no. 26 = Dorking Hoard]; Spink 1044), chipped to edge between 1 and 2 o'clock, and with traces of verdigris, otherwise of good metal, a clear and well-centered strike, lightly toned, strictly approaching very fine, but extremely rare, only five known to Naismith, with just two in private hands - this by far the best. Provenance, T Mathews, by private treaty, 1989 - £390, SNC, July 1987, no. 4366 - "rare, edge chipped, otherwise VF" - £500 SNC, September 1985, no. 5732 - "rare, edge chipped, otherwise F-VF" - £500 Commander R P Mack, Sylloge 706, collection part-purchased after auction by Spink, 1979, Baldwin, by private treaty, 1948 [with his ticket], Estimate: £400 - £600 |  |
Match 5:
| Spink > Auction 23005 | Auction date: 12 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 239 Price realized: 380 GBP (Approx. 477 USD / 443 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: The 'Haddenham' Collection of English Coins | Cnut 'the Great' (1016-1035/36), 'Quatrefoil' Type Penny, c. 1017-1023, Cambridge, Ælfwig, + CNVT REX ANGLO : commencing at 8 o'clock, crowned and draped bust left, rev. + ÆLFPIG ON GRANT: voided long cross in pellet-tipped quatrefoil, 0.90g [13.89grns], 2h (Hildebrand -, cf. 1015-1017 [Type E]; K A Jacob [SCMB, February 1984, p. 36 - "ÆLFWINE"] and Sale -; SCBI 1 [Fitzwilliam], 753 same dies; North 781; BMC VIII; Spink 1157), bright with peripheral striking softness, and on a very faintly creased flan, otherwise with a pleasing portrait, a bolder very fine, and evidently an extremely rare reading, unknown to Hildebrand or Jacob. "From the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, it is learnt that Cambridge was sacked and burnt by the Danes in 1010. within the period when the Last Small Cross type coins were in issue. Could it have been during the upheaval of the burning of the town and the confusion which followed, that a shortage of dies was experienced, and that dies in the name of Wulfsige were marked with pellets so they could be used by other moneyers and their coins denoted, and all coupled with this available obverse die?" Estimate: £240 - £300 |  |
