Penny of Ecgberht of Wessex

This Anglo-Saxon penny was sent in by Graham Payne, who asked for my opinion on its possible value.

The coin was struck for Ecgberht of Wessex, whose dates are AD 802-to 829. On the obverse is a diademed head facing right and a legend reading +ECGBEORHT REX. Within the inner circle on the reverse is a cross crosslet and this is surrounded by a legend that reads +SIGESTEF. Therefore, the moneyer is Sigestef, who was an official at the Canterbury mint.

In volume I of J. J. North’s English Hammered Coinage pennies of this type are listed as number 562. In the Standard Catalogue they are number 1033.

Valuation

The coin would grade better than Fine but there are weak patches on both sides, it is dark in colour and there is an edge chip. It has a few negative points but on the plus side it is very rare. After taking into consideration its plus and minus points, if I was cataloguing this coin for sale at auction then I would set the pre-sale estimate at £1,200-1,500.

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