Penny of King Ceolwulf I of Mercia
Ian Darke said this Anglo-Saxon penny was unearthed last Saturday. I was asked to provide a full ID on what is a rather special find.
Firstly, this is a coin of King Ceolwulf I of Mercia, who reigned from AD 821 to 825. Within the inner circle on the obverse is a cross crosslet and the legend on this side reads +CIOLVVLF REX m.
In the centre of the reverse is a cross pattee with a pellet in each angle and the legend on this side reads +m O m B m A m. Therefore, the moneyer is Oba, who was based at Canterbury.
In volume I of J. J. North’s English Hammered Coinage this die pairing is listed as number 379/1. It is unlisted in the Standard Catalogue.
Pennies of this period often turn up as fragments of various sizes rather than complete coins. This Ceolwulf penny is intact and in VF condition with good eye appeal. It is also extremely rare so besides being of great interest to collectors, it would also be an outstanding museum piece.
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