Penny of Coenwulf

The detectorist who unearthed this coin wanted to remain anonymous but asked for a valuation on his find.

The coin is an early Anglo-Saxon penny of Coenwulf, who was King of Mercia from AD 796 to 821. On the obverse is a diademed bust facing right and the legend on this side reads +COENWVLF REX M. On the reverse the main part of the design in the centre is usually described as a pincer cross; the surrounding legend reads PERHEARDI (with some ligation) MONETA so Werheard is the moneyer. This particular type was struck at the mint situated in Canterbury from circa 810 to 820.

In volume I of J. J. North’s English Hammered Coinage this type of Coenwulf penny is listed as number 347. In the Standard Catalogue it is number 916.   

Valuation

The coin would grade VF but the edge is bent between 7 and 8 o’clock on the obverse. Basing my figure on recent sale prices, if I was cataloguing this coin for sale at auction then I would set the pre-sale estimate at £1,500 and would expect the hammer price to be close to that figure.

Valuation Service

If you would like your coin identified or valued, please read about my valuation service and contact me