| Davissons, Ltd. > Auction 43 | Auction date: 20 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 175 Price realized: 1,400 USD (Approx. 1,290 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Electrotype of English hammered coinage. Edward the Confessor (On a type of a Harold II PAX penny). 1042-1066. Penny electrotype (double-thick). 18.5 mm. BMC Type xvii. York. Snæborn, moneyer. His crowned bust right with scepter; +EΛDPΛRD REX around / PAX across the center; +SENEDBRN ON EOFR around. This coin type is not listed in any of the Standard Catalog editions nor in North. Both catalogs end with BMC xvi, the pyramids type. It is the only example of a type xvii in the 19th century BMC Anglo-Saxon catalogs. (BMC 1893: Edward the Confessor: 429. (Page 370) Plate XXIV: 14. As made. Oman (The Coinage of England. Oxford. 1931) commenting about the reason for the coin notes that "The only conceivable explanation is that this penny may be local and medallic-unlike all other coins of the reign. It may refer to the pacification of the North by Harold, acting as the king's minister and vice-regent in 1065....) Oman notes that the type is only known for York but in my copy of Oman, ex G V Doubleday (his signature), is a marginal notation indicating the type is also known for Norwich-also a northern mint. Electrotypes of Anglo-Saxon coins in the British Museum Many used for the Standard Catalog prior to 2007 British Museum electrotypes of ancient coins were produced in quantity and distributed for educational use as well as for collectors. I have been unable to locate any history of the Anglo-Saxon electrotypes offered here. Some of these electrotypes are of images used for photographs of Anglo-Saxon coins in the new publication, Standard Catalog of British Coins, Part 1 first published in 1962 by Seaby's Numismatic Publications. It is probable these actual pieces were photographed. Responsibility for the half-tone photographs in the volume as well as editorial responsibility for the Anglo-Saxon section (up to Edward II) fell on Frank Purvey, Seaby's photographer and long-time director of the firm. Peter Seaby's comments in the 1962 Coin and Medal Bulletin make no reference to the source for the coins photographed. Current practice for the Standard Catalog includes many pieces from important Spink auctions. Each of these electrotypes has been identified in one of the British Museum catalogs as well as in the "Standard Catalog" if the image actually made the cut when the reference was first published. Estimate: 750 USD |  |
