A number of new additions

[Roerbakmix]

I haven't found much time to post - life can be busy with four kids and work. I was however rather lucky in a recent Dutch auction, and more recently with the purchase of a group lot of sceattas. 

First, the result of the auction. This was an auction by Theo Peters. It included a rather nice selection of sceattas, most in excellent conditions. I've asked my good friend @AnYangManto bid on my behalf (as I was attending the swimming lessons of my twin and thus unable to bid). Somehow, he was able to secure all lots for a grand total of 2100€ or so (which I had to explain to my wife). In total, I won six sceattas. I was able to track down provenance for all but one:

1) This coin (series P) was on my wish list for quite a while. This is one of those 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' types. Some described it as an anglo-saxon television. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series P, type 70), minted: East Midlands; 730-735
Obv: Standard' with saltire and pellets; tufa above, lines at sides, three pellets below; all within pelleted circle
Rev: Standard' with central annulet, two chevrons at opposite corners; Ts at sides; all within pelleted circle.
Weight: 0.92g; Ø:11.4 mm. Catalogue: SL 130-170.
Provenance: Ex. Baldwins auction 40, lot 101 (03-05-2005)
Ex. Henzen List 177/956
Ex. AA muntenveiling auction 62, lot 348 (17/06/2023); 
Find location: Unknown Published: No
 

2) Series R5. This one was part of a group lot. It's prettier in hand. The previous collector probably bought it because of its large flan: the dotted border / raised rim is usually not, or only partly on flan. I have to study this coin closer; perhaps the 'garbled legend' on the reverse actually have some meaning (TAA UVI?)

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series R5), minted: ;
Obv: Radiate bust to the right; EPA (runic) before.
Rev: Tufa with garbled legend around.
Weight: 0.63g; Ø:12.3 mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Ex. Baldwins auction 40, lot 100 (03-05-2005)
Ex. AA muntenveiling auction 62, lot 333 (17/06/2023)
acq.: 06-2023
Find location: Unknown Published: No
 

3) Series R, but very unusual. With some help by @ChrisNumiScholar (Chris Timms), I found the original EMC listing and find location, thus tracking down the provenance to 1991. Chris actually found another die-matched coin. Hopefully, we'll publish this coin somewhere, sometime. EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series R (imitative)), minted: ;
Obv: Crude runic busts with EPA before, beaded diadem, linear neck, chevron behind
Rev: Tufa enclosing trefoil, each side of degenerate votive standard, cross to each corner
Weight: 1.25g; Ø:11 mm. Catalogue: Sceatta List IV 11-180 (plate coin). Provenance: EMC 1990.0170
Ex. AA muntenveiling auction 62, lot 333 (17/06/2023); acq.: 06-2023
Find location: Tadley, Hampshire (May 1991) Published: Included in sceatta List IV 11-180 (plate coin)
 

 4) Series F, but really nice condition and very broad flan. Series F is divided in subclasses, but I haven't found time to precisely pinpoint mine. This series was attributed to the Anglo Saxons, but later more convincingly to Quentovic, a prolific French (merovingian) city. This is the only coin I couldn't find an earlier provenance. 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series F), minted: probably continental; 695-705
Obv: Bust facing right, wearing helmet with neck gaurd, large nose to forehead, cross-patte behind. Blundered legend around.
Rev: Cross on steps, annulets around, blundered legend around (largely off-flan)
Weight: 1.21g; Ø:11.6 mm. Catalogue: Abramson 106-35. Provenance: Ex. AA muntenveiling auction 62, lot 333 (17-06-2023); acq.: 06-2023
Find location: Unknown Published: No
 

5) This Herstal / star of david / Interlace type is the best I've found online. It's somewhat scarce. I've posted a more detailed post on the Herstal type on Cointalk previously (https://www.cointalk.com/threads/auction-win-heritage-europe-herstal-sceatta.371585/). It's an interesting coin, found in sceatta hoards, meaning they circulated together. However, they're EXTREMELY LARGE (relatively, of course) with 13 mm (the average sceatta is around 11 mm). 

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Hexagon or 'Herstal' type), minted: Frisia Magna or Austrasia; 715-750
Obv: Cross within Star of David-like design; pellets around
Rev: Central cross with radiating lines around and cross above
Weight: 1.31g; Ø:13.2 mm. Catalogue: Abramson 109.10; Metcalf p. 256–8; SCBI –; EMC 2001.1261; North –; SCBC 796.. Provenance: Ex. Künker auction 105, lot 1975 (27-09-2005)
Ex. Henzen List 173/951
Ex. AA muntenveiling auction 62 (17-06-2023); acq.: 06-2023
Find location: Unknown Published: No
 

6) Series Bz. This was my main aim in the auction. Series Bz is rare, and only a few have can be found on ACsearch and Sixbid. I'll write a thread on this coin later, going into the iconography and the similarity of the reverse (I mixed the rev/obv; rev = left; obv = right) with series B and J.  

EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series Bz, type 29b), minted: Essex or East Anglia; 700-710
Obv: •VV++•++ΛI, rudimentary facing head of Christ
Rev: Bird standing right upon cross; unclear legend around.
Weight: 1.2g; Ø:10.9 mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Elsen liste 239 lot 366; acq.: 06-2023
Find location: Unknown Published: no

 

 

[Roerbakmix]

(new post because of file size limitations). 

Last week, a Belgian dealer contacted me. He had 29 sceattas for sale. Most where in modest conditions, but the lot included a few rarities. Of the 29 sceattas, two were basically blanks, three were poor, but identifiable, 13 were common and OK. I sold these, and kept the remaining 11 coins, which included one Merovingian denier. I haven't found time to photograph all coins. 

7) Series X. I already had one (in somewhat better condition), but this obverse is slightly different style. 

Last week, a Belgian dealer contacted me. He had 29 sceattas for sale. Most where in modest conditions, but the lot included a few rarities. Of the 29 sceattas, two were basically blanks, three were poor, but identifiable, 13 were common and OK. I sold these, and kept the remaining 11 coins, which included one Merovingian denier. I haven't found time to photograph all coins. 

7) Series X. I already had one (in somewhat better condition), but this obverse is slightly different style. 

8 ) series J, type 37. It's not a rare coin, and not in perfect condition, but it's better than the one I have. Still looking for one of good silver and decent strike. 

9) Series E, secondary phase var i. This is a really ugly and unattractive coin. It's however a very rare left facing series E. Of the c. 3000 series E included in the corpus of Metcalf and Op den Velde, approx. 50 or so (I didnt'count them)  are left facing.

9) Series E, secondary phase var i. This is a unique coin: the geometric reverse is very interesting. It will be included in Sceatta List as a new variety. 

10) Series E, secondary phase var i. This coin closely imitates primary phase var D, but the obverse is different (crescent not ending in annulet). Reverse is again very similar, but for var D, there are only four pellets around the annulet. 

11) Series E, primary phase var G3. This variety consists of four groups (1-4). In my experience, var G3 is the rarest. The photo doesn't do the coin justice; the relief is unusually bold. 

 

[Roerbakmix]

12) The final coin is a Merovingian silver denier. I'll try to remove the deposits on the reverse and obverse; the silver looks of high purity. Any help pinpointing this coin would be very much appreciated!

[AnYangMan]

I may be biased, but whoever bid on your behalf at Theo Peters did a stellar job! That series BZ is beyond incredible, it really is incredible how high relief and crisp the fields are on that piece. Ditto on the Herstal; fantastic acquisitions! Now where to store all these lovely cabinet-piece 😜

 

[John Conduitt]

Nice coins as usual. They have great toning too, which isn't always the case.

[Coinmaster]

Great acquisitions, congratz!