Nap's year in review 2024 (top 10)

[Nap]

Ok, I had a topic mostly written out but sadly my computer crashed and it wasn't saved.  So after procrastinating a bit I am now writing it again.  Less descriptive this time, but oh well.

Another year to reflect and enjoy the new coins I was able to add to the collection.  My main focus continues to be British coins, mostly Anglo-Saxon, but also with a goal of one of each monarch.  It's not a completable goal, given a number of unique coins in museums, but I've tried to stay focused (despite many distractions).  I am getting to the point where great rarities exceed my budget, and sometimes have to make tough decisions on adding impaired coins or living without.  As I consider mine an academic collection, I have often favored impaired coins, rather than perpetual holes, but this is a strategy that does not appeal to everyone.  Nevertheless I have tried to add some nice things here and there as well.  Here are 10 of my favorite additions of the year.

Anglo-Saxon or Frisian gold tremissis, Nietap (or Lincolnshire), early 7th century.
My first entry is a teeny gold coin, only 6 mm in diameter, but a little chunky and weighing over a gram.  It is of a different appearance than other Saxon and continental gold coins.  This gold coin is similar to others that were found in a hoard at Nietap, but there also was an example in the (English) Crondall Hoard, and this coin and several others were found in England, clustered in Lincolnshire.  The reverse "portrait" is quite degenerated compared with other Nietap types (see https://www.numisforums.com/topic/368-some-early-medieval-additions-second-gold-few-sceattas/)It is not clear whether these are all continental or whether some may be English imitations, I tend to suspect the latter.

 

Series K sceat, type 32a, Kent, early 8th century
Featuring a bust right holding a cross, and hair tied into a triquetra, this coin has a very early Saxon feel to it, but it is the reverse wolf-headed serpent with a coiled tongue that really makes the coin a nice depiction of early medieval art.  Believed to have been made in Kent.

 

Series Q IE sceat, type 67, East Anglia early 8th century
The series Q sceats, probably produced in East Anglia around the same time period as the series K sceats which were produced in Kent, tend to feature birds and occasionally other creatures.  The role of the bird in East Anglian symbolism is still not completely clear, but it presumably has both classical and Christian meanings.

 

Styca of Wigmund, Archbishop of York, 837-854, moneyer Coenred, "omega face" reverse
Bronze and brass stycas were produced in Northumbria in the early-mid 9th century, and are a continuation of the sceatta coinage.  These coins differ than the silver pennies being produced in southern England during the same time.  The stycas are base metal, and only about 12mm in diameter.  They were made in large numbers, and are probably the commonest and least expensive Saxon coins to collect.  They are also exceptionally boring, having little more than the king/bishop name on one side, the moneyer on the other.  Usually surrounding a cross.
This particular coin however is a very rare variety, it has a central motif on the reverse that appears to be a frowning face set into an upside down letter Omega.  Alpha and Omega appear on Saxon coins, and have meaning in Christian scripture.  It seems Coenred was trying to be a little unique, with his doodling on the die.  His other coins, which are quite numerous, are thoroughly conventional- this was the only die to have this little face variety, and only 3 or 4 examples are known.

 

Penny of Jaenberht, Archbishop of Canterbury 765-792, with Offa, King of Mercia 757-796, Canterbury
Jaenberht was made Archbishop of Canterbury under the powerful Mercian king Offa, and apparently at first the two got along, but relationships soured between Offa and his top clergyman. Jaenberht supported Kentish revolts against Offa's Mercia, refused to crown Offa's son, and may have even made overtures to Charlemagne to encourage him to invade Britain. Offa, in turn, elevated the see of Lichfield to archbishopric to try to dilute Canterbury's influence. History does not record whether Offa and Jaenberht ever reconciled, but it is seems somewhat likely.  Back in the 8th century, kings had to play nice with the clergy, they could not just have their friends rid them of a “troublesome priest”.

 

Penny of Ludica, king of Mercia 826-827, moneyer Eadgar, East Anglia
Ludica was a shadowy king of Mercia, who was not obviously related to any of the prior dynasties, but who took control in the chaotic 820s after the death of Beornwulf.  Ludica attempted to put down a rebellion in East Anglia, but ended up suffering the same fate as his predecessor- dying in battle against the East Angles.  Sadly this coin is damaged, but due to the brevity of Ludica's reign, his coins are exceptionally rare, with less than 10 known.  One was made in London, then a Mercian town but a minor mint, the others were from the East Anglian mint, probably located in Ipswich.

 

Penny of Cuthred, king of Kent 798-807, moneyer Eaba, Canterbury
Cuthred was brother to Coenwulf, the powerful king of Mercia who installed his brother as king of a diminished and now tributory state of Kent.  Cuthred predeceased his brother.  Another of the brothers, Ceolwulf, also became king in Mercia.  Familial Anglo-Saxon given names seem to often begin with the same letter.

 

Balance half-merk of James VI, king of Scotland 1567-1625 and England 1603-1625, Edinburgh
Moving way into the future, this is a Scottish coin of King James VI, who later became King James I of England after the death of Queen Elizabeth.  James has a varied series of coins, with this one showing a sword and balance on the reverse being one of the more interesting designs.

 

Swedish penny, time of Olof Skötkonung 995-1022, Sigtuna
The Scandinavian coins of the late 10th and early 11th century copy English designs, this one copying Aethelred II long cross type, but with a Scandinavian flavor.  Olof seemed to produce this coin and others simultaneously with a coinage in his name, and it is not clear why the majority of coins from this era are blundered.  Die linking shows though that they almost certainly come from Sweden and are contemporary with the inscribed pieces.

 

Merovingian tremissis, national series, uncertain legends, ?Metz, early-mid 7th century
An interesting tremissis, with difficult to interpret legends.  The reverse has alpha and omega hanging from a cross.  I bought this coin in Paris, they have a whole row of coin dealers on one street, and right down the block from the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, a small museum but one which has a wonderful group of coins on display (as well as very cool reading rooms).

 

Thanks for checking them out!  Happy holidays and New Year!

 

Edited December 18, 2024 by Nap

[John Conduitt]

I'm always envious of your list. Especially the broken one! Most of the time I only ever see coins like these in your collection.

[Theodosius]

#2 is a stunner!

Great set for the year.

John

[Di Nomos]

Congratulations on another year of collecting great and very interesting coins. My favourite though is the broken penny of Ludica, I really like that one.

[Qcumbor]

The three first are gorgeaous, especially the sceats : wonderful depictions, so modern, so "Picassoesque" !

Q

[Spargrodan]

Being swedish this is an easy choice for me. Olof Skötkonung first swedish king to mint coins in Sweden.

[Sulla80]

Great looking coins - multiple that I've never seen before - these two particularly interesting for their abstract style.

• Series K sceat, type 32a, Kent, early 8th century
• Series Q IE sceat, type 67, East Anglia early 8th century

[JayAg47]

That Series K sceat, type 32a, is definitely my favourite, love that dragon looking imagery! 
 

[panzerman]

I really like these a lot.

My picks are the first and the last one.

Beautifull!

John

[DonnaML]

I voted for the first 3. I especially love # 2!

[happy_collector]

#2 and #3 are really cool coins, especially #2. Thanks for sharing! 

[Hrefn]

Agree, the series K sceat is great.