Penny of Edward the Confessor

Rob Warwick sent in the images of this coin but it was found by a friend, who needed a full ID and a valuation.

The coin is a penny of Edward the Confessor and is an example of the expanding cross type.  On the obverse the legend reads +EDPARD REEX and on the reverse we have +LIFINC ON LLVNDEN:.

Of the various types struck for Edward the Confessor, the expanding cross type is not particularly rare. However, this example is a rather unusual variety. In the centre of the reverse there is usually a full circle, from which the arms of the expending cross extend; in the throat of the cross there are four arcs making up a circle surrounding the centre circle. On this coin there is just the centre circle. Additionally, the arms of the expanding cross are usually empty but on this coin each arm has a pellet near the inner circle. Therefore, this is a very unusual and rare variety.

Valuation

I traced only one other similar coin, which was listed on the Fitzwilliam EMC as 1054.1176.  The obverse would grade nearly VF, the reverse VF. It’s a nice looking coin, which should be of interest to specialist collectors. If it was offered for sale at auction I would expect the pre-sale estimate to be set at £500-600.

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