The other early medieval top 10: Roerbakmix edition

[Roerbakmix]

With @Naphaving posted his top 10 (link), I'm happily using the momentum to showcase my top 10 2022. I've added 16 sceattas, two tremissis, and one Anglo-Saxon penny to the collection, bringing the total to 66 sceattas, two tremissis, and two pennies.

My personal goal to reach 100 sceattas this year might have been a bit ambitious, however, if I didn't buy the tremissis, it might have been within reach. 

(Totally unnecessary chart depicting the additions over time). 

Nr 10, my most recent purchase, a penny of Cnut. I saw this penny in the inventory of a trader I regularly buy from early in 2019, but my focus then was Roman coins. I had bought, more or less by accident, a lot of three Anglo-Saxon pennies: two of Aethelred II, and one of Cnut, which turned out to be extremely rare and valuable. It was the first coin I auctioned, and the only coin I regret selling. So, when I met the dealer at a coin fair in September, I asked him whether he still had the coin.  He showed hit to me, and I was sold (metaphorically). The coin has a wonderful golden toning, which is not adequately captured by this photo. 

ANGLO-SAXON, Cnut. Denomination: AR Penny (Short cross type), minted: England, Londen. Moneyer: leofwold;
Obv: +CNVT . REX A. Diademed bust of Cnut to the left; scepter before.
Rev: +L.EOFPOL.D ON LV: Voided cross.
Weight: 1.17g; Ø:17.5mm. Catalogue: - . Provenance: Bought from J.T.M. van Bergen, who bought it as a lot of three Cnut pennies, which were (allegedly) part of a hoard found in 2014 near the Thames in London (though I couldn't find a PAS registration). ; acq.: 11-2022

 

Nr 9 is a super small, rough coin from the Tony Abramson Collection. I bought it privately, as I lacked funds when his collection was sold. It's a tremissis of the Nietap type, named after a small city where, in the 1900's, a hoard of tremissis was found (it's really nearby the small village where I grew up - only 4 km. My uncle, a farmer, owns land <300 m from the hoard.) I discussed the coin in more detail here (link); in short, it's probably a Frisian imitation of an unknown tremissis. The obverse should show a bust to the right (but the die is corroded); with a garbled legend around. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AV Tremissis (Nietap type 1), minted: Frisia?; 620-630 AD
Obv: Die rust / worn die common for type, but remainder of bust to right with legend is visible
Rev: double cross in beaded circle, vestigial legends
Weight: 1.19g; Ø:11mm. Catalogue: SCBI 69, 1090 this coin; cf: T&S 73 = Sutherland 90 = Crondall 95; Metcalf [2016], 22. Provenance: Ex. Tony Abramson, bought from spink auction 21070 lot 998. ; acq.: 05-2022
 

Nr 8 is a series J sceatta, type 85, which I haven't post before. It's my second type 85. It's attributed to York, minted around 710-730. I posted the other one, which is an absolutely stunning example, previously here (link). The buste on this coin below is similar to the Series B. I still need to read into the relation between Series B and J (@Nap probably knows this).

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series J, type 85), minted: Anglo-Saxon; 710-725, York
Obv: Diademed head right, double strand pearl diadem
Rev: A bird on a cross, pellets in field in front of bird and below horizontal bar on the cross; annulets at the ends of the horizontal arms, beaded inner circle
Weight: 0.88g; Ø:11.6mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Bought from Eddy Pauwels, who found the coins near Etaples-sur-Mer (2022); acq.: 07-2022
 

Nr 7 is also a Series J, but type 37. It's a coin that's very, very difficult to find in good condition. Most are debased, many are plated. This was a bit of a gamble, and I probably overpaid. In hand, it's a nice coin, and way better than my other type 37.  However, it's still corroded and somewhat debased. For now, I'll keep it in the collection, but will remain on the lookout for a better type 37. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series J, type 37), minted: Mint in Northumbria; 710-725 AD
Obv: Two confronted diademed heads; between, long cross with trident end; double border
Rev: Cross, at each end a bird right; double border.
Weight: 0g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Bought on ebay from adl-numismatics, NR 154920101191, found in Norfolk, England, 2018; acq.: 03-2022
Darkly toned, irregular flan

 

Nr 6, the next coin, shows (with some fantasy) how a 'porcupine' can be interpreted as a diademed bust. This is a primary phase (690-715) series E (continental) sceatta, of the variety G4. It shows a Latin legend on the obverse ("XAZA"), which is uncommon for sceatta's. There are four subtypes of Series E, var. G, with G3 (XAZA-like) and G4 (this type) being the scarcest. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series E, primary phase, variety G4 (XAZO)), minted: Frisia; 695-715/720
Obv: Quilled crescent curved right, enclosing "Moon face" right, XAZA before
Rev: Square standard of line with dots, inside pellet within annulet, horizontal line above and below ending in dots on each side.
Weight: 0g; Ø:mm. Catalogue: Die-match to die-chain 550-552 in JMP. Provenance: Ex. L'numis d'or, bought on Ebay (185436822497), from the seller who bought it on a flea market in Étaples (FR); acq.: 05-2022
 

Nr. 5 is probably my rarest sceatta, with only two others known (all with find locations in England). I discussed this in length here (link), and suggest that it's probably not a continental, but Saxon mintage (though with n=3, nothing can be said with certainty). Tony Abramson places it in Series E, var G (see above), 'G5'. I missed it when it was auctioned, selling for only 30 GBP or so. I then spotted it on Ebay for 90GBP, and quickly secured it. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series G5), minted: Anglo-Saxon? Frisia?; 650-750 AD
Obv: porcupine-like figure with runic letters around
Rev: runic letters around ornate uncial m
Weight: 0.9g; Ø:11.2mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Found near Rochester (Kent) in 1980s, bought on Ebay from Ancient17, ID 385156253365; acq.: 10-2022
 

Nr 4 is as ugly as they can get: a ragged, worn sceatta. For the specialist however, it's an intriguing coin, and I'll post a detailed thread on it later. In short, the primary phase Series E Plumed Bird types are grouped in four subtypes (J,K,L,M), of which subtype M is a mule with Series (not variety!) G, attributed to Quintovic (France). I've identified various other mules, some clearly immitative (such as this one), but others more official. In a die study (to be completed), I propose new sub-varieties. 

The present coin is a double die match to the only other specimen I know of (which is also in my collection, discussed here (link). That coin was without find location, the present coin however was found near Etaples (France), which fits in my theory that these coins were imitated in current France. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series E, (mule) plumed bird // reverse type ?), minted: Frisia magna; 690-750 AD
Obv: Plumed bird with three lined tail
Rev: Central annulet with V's around, cross-pommee above, all within square
Weight: 0.32g; Ø:9.3mm. Catalogue: Not in JMP. Provenance: Found near Étaples, France. Bought from Le Numis d'or, Ebay (ID 185594493974); acq.: 10-2022
 

Nr. 3 appears to be somewhat rougher than it is in hand. It's a scarce Maastricht (named after the Merovingian city where this coin was presumably minted), or Zedelius coin type. It is very dissimilar to the other sceatta's, and just like the Interlace type (or Herstal type, also in my collection, discussed here [link]), I regard these as Merovingian. Still, it's a nice coin to add to the collection, and it wasn't terribly expensive. With this coin, I've included an exemplar of each continental sceatta (Series D, E,, F G, X, herstal, Maastricht). Funnily enough, I bought it from Elsen, waiting in a parking lot in Maastricht, which felt right. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Zedelius, Interlace or Maastricht type), minted: Mint possibly in Maastricht; 695-740 AD
Obv: Stylised, bust left with thickly braided hair in simple diadem, exaggerated features, cross pommée before, beading below and behind.
Rev: Interlaced cross with three pellets in each quadrant
Weight: 0.57g; Ø:11mm. Catalogue: Abramson 60-10. Provenance: Ex. Elsen, auction 150, lot 1005; acq.: 03-2022
 

Nr 2 is an iconic type. It's attributed to Ribe (Denmark), and though there is no consensus of what exactly is depicted on the obverse, many follow the suggestion that it is Wodan (which is of course way cooler than 'stylized abstract bust' or so). I like the earthen deposits - it adds character and some depth. It may perhaps explain why I was able to buy this coin for 'just' 600 EUR: without the deposits, I've seen similar coins sell for 1000 or more. Or maybe I was lucky. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series X), minted: Ribe, Danmark; 710-780 AD
Obv: Facing 'Wodan' head with radiate hear, beard and mustache, cross on either side, all within line border
Rev: Bipedal monster in flight, looking back, gaping jaws biting raised triple-forked tail, crest before with pellet and, ornaments below head.
Weight: 0g; Ø:11.8mm. Catalogue: Abramson 103-10. Provenance: Schulman, auction 371, lot 1751; acq.: 04-2022
Sharply struck, some earthen deposits mainly on reverse. Dark grey toning

Nr 1 is of course my first gold early medieval coin. I've discussed it in detail here (link). In short, this coin was offered by a befriended coin dealer, who bought it from a metal detectorist (I even have the video of the 'dig'!). It came with find location, and the approval of Arent Pol, the Dutch expert on these types (who stated it was the best he has seen). It's a Frisian Tremissis, Dronrijp type (named after the village Dronrijp where a hoard was found), though the Nietap hoard (see above) included a few of these as well. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AV Tremissis (Dronrijp type), minted: Frisia; 620-630 AD
Obv: bust to left, with NR before and small cross above. Dotted circles above.
Rev: anchored cross with U and mirrored L, dot below. Ineligible legend around, including runic letter
Catalogue: Boelens type B; Pol series II, class 2-3. Provenance: Ex. Hollandia Numismatics. Found near Castricum, nov-2021; acq.: 05-2022
 

That's it! Hope you've enjoyed this little list of coins from an obscure period of time. To conclude: if this were a coin, I would certainly include it in my top 10: a pseudo-coin fibula (or nummular brooch). This one is discussed here in more detail (link). 

Edited December 7, 2022 by Roerbakmix

[John Conduitt]

Great list. That Dronrijp tremissis is pretty amazing - well worth delaying your sceatta target. You did really well on 'Wodan' too. I'll have a Interlace/Maastricht type in my list...

Interesting that they imitated Series E in France.

[Al Kowsky]

1 hour ago, Roerbakmix said:

With @Naphaving posted his top 10 (link), I'm happily using the momentum to showcase my top 10 2022. I've added 16 sceattas, two tremissis, and one Anglo-Saxon penny to the collection, bringing the total to 66 sceattas, two tremissis, and two pennies.

My personal goal to reach 100 sceattas this year might have been a bit ambitious, however, if I didn't buy the tremissis, it might have been within reach. 

(Totally unnecessary chart depicting the additions over time). 

Nr 10, my most recent purchase, a penny of Cnut. I saw this penny in the inventory of a trader I regularly buy from early in 2019, but my focus then was Roman coins. I had bought, more or less by accident, a lot of three Anglo-Saxon pennies: two of Aethelred II, and one of Cnut, which turned out to be extremely rare and valuable. It was the first coin I auctioned, and the only coin I regret selling. So, when I met the dealer at a coin fair in September, I asked him whether he still had the coin.  He showed hit to me, and I was sold (metaphorically). The coin has a wonderful golden toning, which is not adequately captured by this photo. 

ANGLO-SAXON, Cnut. Denomination: AR Penny (Short cross type), minted: England, Londen. Moneyer: leofwold;
Obv: +CNVT . REX A. Diademed bust of Cnut to the left; scepter before.
Rev: +L.EOFPOL.D ON LV: Voided cross.
Weight: 1.17g; Ø:17.5mm. Catalogue: - . Provenance: Bought from J.T.M. van Bergen, who bought it as a lot of three Cnut pennies, which were (allegedly) part of a hoard found in 2014 near the Thames in London (though I couldn't find a PAS registration). ; acq.: 11-2022

 

Nr 9 is a super small, rough coin from the Tony Abramson Collection. I bought it privately, as I lacked funds when his collection was sold. It's a tremissis of the Nietap type, named after a small city where, in the 1900's, a hoard of tremissis was found (it's really nearby the small village where I grew up - only 4 km. My uncle, a farmer, owns land <300 m from the hoard.) I discussed the coin in more detail here (link); in short, it's probably a Frisian imitation of an unknown tremissis. The obverse should show a bust to the right (but the die is corroded); with a garbled legend around. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AV Tremissis (Nietap type 1), minted: Frisia?; 620-630 AD
Obv: Die rust / worn die common for type, but remainder of bust to right with legend is visible
Rev: double cross in beaded circle, vestigial legends
Weight: 1.19g; Ø:11mm. Catalogue: SCBI 69, 1090 this coin; cf: T&S 73 = Sutherland 90 = Crondall 95; Metcalf [2016], 22. Provenance: Ex. Tony Abramson, bought from spink auction 21070 lot 998. ; acq.: 05-2022
 

Nr 8 is a series J sceatta, type 85, which I haven't post before. It's my second type 85. It's attributed to York, minted around 710-730. I posted the other one, which is an absolutely stunning example, previously here (link). The buste on this coin below is similar to the Series B. I still need to read into the relation between Series B and J (@Nap probably knows this).

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series J, type 85), minted: Anglo-Saxon; 710-725, York
Obv: Diademed head right, double strand pearl diadem
Rev: A bird on a cross, pellets in field in front of bird and below horizontal bar on the cross; annulets at the ends of the horizontal arms, beaded inner circle
Weight: 0.88g; Ø:11.6mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Bought from Eddy Pauwels, who found the coins near Etaples-sur-Mer (2022); acq.: 07-2022
 

Nr 7 is also a Series J, but type 37. It's a coin that's very, very difficult to find in good condition. Most are debased, many are plated. This was a bit of a gamble, and I probably overpaid. In hand, it's a nice coin, and way better than my other type 37.  However, it's still corroded and somewhat debased. For now, I'll keep it in the collection, but will remain on the lookout for a better type 37. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series J, type 37), minted: Mint in Northumbria; 710-725 AD
Obv: Two confronted diademed heads; between, long cross with trident end; double border
Rev: Cross, at each end a bird right; double border.
Weight: 0g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Bought on ebay from adl-numismatics, NR 154920101191, found in Norfolk, England, 2018; acq.: 03-2022
Darkly toned, irregular flan

 

Nr 6, the next coin, shows (with some fantasy) how a 'porcupine' can be interpreted as a diademed bust. This is a primary phase (690-715) series E (continental) sceatta, of the variety G4. It shows a Latin legend on the obverse ("XAZA"), which is uncommon for sceatta's. There are four subtypes of Series E, var. G, with G3 (XAZA-like) and G4 (this type) being the scarcest. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series E, primary phase, variety G4 (XAZO)), minted: Frisia; 695-715/720
Obv: Quilled crescent curved right, enclosing "Moon face" right, XAZA before
Rev: Square standard of line with dots, inside pellet within annulet, horizontal line above and below ending in dots on each side.
Weight: 0g; Ø:mm. Catalogue: Die-match to die-chain 550-552 in JMP. Provenance: Ex. L'numis d'or, bought on Ebay (185436822497), from the seller who bought it on a flea market in Étaples (FR); acq.: 05-2022
 

Nr. 5 is probably my rarest sceatta, with only two others known (all with find locations in England). I discussed this in length here (link), and suggest that it's probably not a continental, but Saxon mintage (though with n=3, nothing can be said with certainty). Tony Abramson places it in Series E, var G (see above), 'G5'. I missed it when it was auctioned, selling for only 30 GBP or so. I then spotted it on Ebay for 90GBP, and quickly secured it. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series G5), minted: Anglo-Saxon? Frisia?; 650-750 AD
Obv: porcupine-like figure with runic letters around
Rev: runic letters around ornate uncial m
Weight: 0.9g; Ø:11.2mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Found near Rochester (Kent) in 1980s, bought on Ebay from Ancient17, ID 385156253365; acq.: 10-2022
 

Nr 4 is as ugly as they can get: a ragged, worn sceatta. For the specialist however, it's an intriguing coin, and I'll post a detailed thread on it later. In short, the primary phase Series E Plumed Bird types are grouped in four subtypes (J,K,L,M), of which subtype M is a mule with Series (not variety!) G, attributed to Quintovic (France). I've identified various other mules, some clearly immitative (such as this one), but others more official. In a die study (to be completed), I propose new sub-varieties. 

The present coin is a double die match to the only other specimen I know of (which is also in my collection, discussed here (link). That coin was without find location, the present coin however was found near Etaples (France), which fits in my theory that these coins were imitated in current France. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series E, (mule) plumed bird // reverse type ?), minted: Frisia magna; 690-750 AD
Obv: Plumed bird with three lined tail
Rev: Central annulet with V's around, cross-pommee above, all within square
Weight: 0.32g; Ø:9.3mm. Catalogue: Not in JMP. Provenance: Found near Étaples, France. Bought from Le Numis d'or, Ebay (ID 185594493974); acq.: 10-2022
 

Nr. 3 appears to be somewhat rougher than it is in hand. It's a scarce Maastricht (named after the Merovingian city where this coin was presumably minted), or Zedelius coin type. It is very dissimilar to the other sceatta's, and just like the Interlace type (or Herstal type, also in my collection, discussed here [link]), I regard these as Merovingian. Still, it's a nice coin to add to the collection, and it wasn't terribly expensive. With this coin, I've included an exemplar of each continental sceatta (Series D, E,, F G, X, herstal, Maastricht). Funnily enough, I bought it from Elsen, waiting in a parking lot in Maastricht, which felt right. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Zedelius, Interlace or Maastricht type), minted: Mint possibly in Maastricht; 695-740 AD
Obv: Stylised, bust left with thickly braided hair in simple diadem, exaggerated features, cross pommée before, beading below and behind.
Rev: Interlaced cross with three pellets in each quadrant
Weight: 0.57g; Ø:11mm. Catalogue: Abramson 60-10. Provenance: Ex. Elsen, auction 150, lot 1005; acq.: 03-2022
 

Nr 2 is an iconic type. It's attributed to Ribe (Denmark), and though there is no consensus of what exactly is depicted on the obverse, many follow the suggestion that it is Wodan (which is of course way cooler than 'stylized abstract bust' or so). I like the earthen deposits - it adds character and some depth. It may perhaps explain why I was able to buy this coin for 'just' 600 EUR: without the deposits, I've seen similar coins sell for 1000 or more. Or maybe I was lucky. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series X), minted: Ribe, Danmark; 710-780 AD
Obv: Facing 'Wodan' head with radiate hear, beard and mustache, cross on either side, all within line border
Rev: Bipedal monster in flight, looking back, gaping jaws biting raised triple-forked tail, crest before with pellet and, ornaments below head.
Weight: 0g; Ø:11.8mm. Catalogue: Abramson 103-10. Provenance: Schulman, auction 371, lot 1751; acq.: 04-2022
Sharply struck, some earthen deposits mainly on reverse. Dark grey toning

Nr 1 is of course my first gold early medieval coin. I've discussed it in detail here (link). In short, this coin was offered by a befriended coin dealer, who bought it from a metal detectorist (I even have the video of the 'dig'!). It came with find location, and the approval of Arent Pol, the Dutch expert on these types (who stated it was the best he has seen). It's a Frisian Tremissis, Dronrijp type (named after the village Dronrijp where a hoard was found), though the Nietap hoard (see above) included a few of these as well. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AV Tremissis (Dronrijp type), minted: Frisia; 620-630 AD
Obv: bust to left, with NR before and small cross above. Dotted circles above.
Rev: anchored cross with U and mirrored L, dot below. Ineligible legend around, including runic letter
Catalogue: Boelens type B; Pol series II, class 2-3. Provenance: Ex. Hollandia Numismatics. Found near Castricum, nov-2021; acq.: 05-2022
 

That's it! Hope you've enjoyed this little list of coins from an obscure period of time. To conclude: if this were a coin, I would certainly include it in my top 10: a pseudo-coin fibula (or nummular brooch). This one is discussed here in more detail (link). 

Roerbakmix, You had an impressive year 😊! My favorites are 1, 2, & 10, along with the Carolingian brooch. 

[Qcumbor]

That's the kind of specialized collecting field I like : obscure and rare. 2 & 8 for me please !

Q

[Oldhoopster]

Nice write ups on an interesting period of history. I like 1, 8 and 10 than for no other reason than the look cool (plus I always liked the Cnut examples and am still kicking myself for not buying one 20+ years ago). Thanks

[JeandAcre]

Wow.  Very impressive array, @Roerbakmix.  Everything except the Cnut is effectively out of my purview, but they're all compelling, and especially well complemented by your typical level of erudition.

[Limes]

A very interesting top list @Roerbakmix, and great written descriptions of high quality. And your chart is cherry on the cake, of course 😁

I'm intrigued by your no. 7, showing the confronting busts. Is it supposed to show a dynasty? Or is there something else going on? Your no. 2 is fascinating as well, the depiction of the figure on the obverse would perfectly fit the front cover of a Scandanavian fantasy novel! 🙂

Thanks for sharing! 

[Nap]

A great selection of continental coins.  While it is no longer academic to call this era the "Dark Ages", I have sentimentality to this old terminology.  "Early medieval period" just doesn't have the same emotion of a time dimly lit by the light of historical record-keeping, and with a world of low literacy, mass migrations, wars, disease, and famine.  Very few primary sources or monuments survive to this day, but nevertheless civilization peeks through, with this remarkable and abstract coinage to go along with a few surviving books and charters.

Congrats on a great year!

[Roerbakmix]

Thanks all for the encouraging comments! I'm currently negotiating a Madelinus tremissis, which will likely be in my top 10 next year (stay tuned! :p)

[JeandAcre]

Best of luck with that, @Roerbakmix!

[John Conduitt]

On 12/30/2022 at 7:05 PM, Roerbakmix said:

Thanks all for the encouraging comments! I'm currently negotiating a Madelinus tremissis, which will likely be in my top 10 next year (stay tuned! :p)

You have great contacts!