Roerbakmix Posted December 30, 2024 · Member Posted December 30, 2024 (edited) Roerbakmix top 10 early medieval coins and artefacts I’m running a bit late with my top 10 list this year (though, to be fair, last year’s was only posted on January 4th). 2024 has been a remarkably productive year, both numismatically and personally. On the numismatic front, I expanded my collection of sceattas from 100 to 118, added a Merovingian denier, and acquired an intriguing Viking artifact. Personally, I achieved two major milestones: completing my PhD and starting a second fellowship in clinical pharmacology. The Early Medieval collection now comprises 118 sceattas, 4 thrymsas, 2 Anglo-Saxon pennies, 1 Carolingian denier, and 3 Merovingian deniers. My Celtic, Roman, and Greek coin collections remained unchanged this year. As in previous years, I aimed to maintain a net-neutral budget balance. I started 2024 with a deficit of €875, but I’ve managed to reduce it to €247. This means that, since beginning my collection in 2016, my total expenditure stands at just €247. Keeping a tight budget is a deliberate choice. With four kids and a mortgage, life is expensive, and this approach ensures I remain focused on the narrative of my collection. It also encourages me to sell coins that no longer align with its overarching story. The coins Number 10 - the VERNVS group I've expanded my VERNVS subcollection with two degraded-bust types (new examples marked yellow). The VERNVS sceatta is a bit of an oddity: it's attributed to England, and though some examples (e.g. the two SL 6-10) show similarities with early series A, the degraded types (e.g. 6.27 and especially the much more common SL 6-40 - my two new examples) have a 'porcupine' i.e. series E 'feel' to it. I've posted on the VERNVS type before: My first VERNVS type My second, die-matched one The discovery of a new variety, which may be a 'missing link' between the series E and VERNVS type, sharing the typical reverse. Interestingly, the new VERNVS coins share the same obverse and reverse die, which was the main reason for me to buy the second one. I'm conducting a die study on the VERNVS series (the last one was from 2009/10 by Metcalf and Op den Velde). I've identified 85 examples, and five or six subgroups (it needs some time to work it out). Perhaps I'll post a thread about this intriguing type of sceattas later. A bucket lister for 2025 is the VALDOBERTVS sceatta - perhaps the earliest of the VERNVS types that served as inspiration. Upper row: Obv: Crude diademed head to the right, VER[N]V[S around Rev: Standard with central O, two chevrons in upper corner, diagnoal lines in lower; crossess at sides Weight: 1.2g; Ø:11 mm. Catalogue: Abramson 6-10; die-matched obv die chain 3463-5 JMP 2009/2010. Provenance: Ex. iNumis 05-03-2019; acquired 14-12-2020. Cleaned; earthen deposits brushed off; weigh decreased from 1.25 to 1.20 Obv: Crude diademed head to the right, VER[N]V[S around Rev: Standard with central O, two chevrons in upper corner, diagnoal lines in lower. Above, a tufa Weight: 1.1g; Ø:11.1 mm. Catalogue: Abramson 6-10; die-matched to obv die chain 3463-5 JMP 2009/2010. Provenance: Bought from Johan Wiersma. ; acq.: 05-2021 Find location: Found near Barham, Mid Suffolk, UK on 01-03-2011 Published: PAS SF-D712D2. Cleaned, removed some white deposits (polishing paste?) Below: Obv: Abstract helmeted bust to the left, cross-pommee before; part of a 'V' legible behind Rev: Beaded standard with central pellet-within annulet, flanked by pellets, and horizontal lines. Cross-pommee on each side of the border. Weight: 0.93g; Ø:10.2 mm. Catalogue: Not in JMP 2009/10. Provenance: Elsen auction 153, lot 798; acq.: 01-2023 Find location: Unknown Published: No Obv/rev: same Weight: 1.11g; Ø:11.4 mm. Catalogue: Not in JMP 2009/10. Provenance: Ex. Noonans 28-09-2022 lot 1638 Bought from ebay seller Fortuna Numismatics, ID: 314240755272; acq.: 01-2023 Find location: Uncertain, bought from UK metaldetectorist. Published: No Unpublished variety of VERNVS to the left, three known (two in this collection). Obverse and reverse die match to above Next row: Obv: Crude radiate bust to the right; V-shaped abstract helmet (?) Rev: Beaded standard with central pellet-within annulet, flanked by pellets, and horizontal lines. Weight: 1.02g; Ø:1.1 mm. Catalogue: Not in JMP 2009/10. Provenance: Ex. Noonans auction 13-07-2022, lot 57 Ex. Victor Parson 03-2023; acq.: 03-2023 Find location: Unknown Published: No Final row, the new coins: Obv: jaw' curved left, ladder element right, vestigial legend Rev: degenerate, beaded, votive standard with central pellet-in-annulet, tufa right, crosses at other sides Weight: 0.58g; Ø:11 mm. Catalogue: Abramson SL 6-40 Obverse & Reverse die metch to JMP 2010 chain 3472-3476 (obv) 3474-75 (rev). Found 2021; acq.: 04-2024 Find location: Found Abridge, Essex, UK Published: 2024.0142 Obv/rev: same as above. Rev: degenerate, beaded, votive standard with central pellet-in-annulet, tufa right, crosses at other sides Weight: 0g; Ø: mm. Catalogue: Abramson SL 6-40 Obverse & Reverse die metch to JMP 2010 chain 3472-3476 (obv) 3474-75 (rev). Provenance: Found 2019 (EMC 2019.0195) Ex Noonans, 6 sept 2024, lot 3; acq.: 09-2024 Find location: Stenson Published: (EMC 2019.0195) Number 9 - two new WIGRAEDS In the later stages of Anglo-Saxon coinage, two moneyers started minting sceattas in the coastal Eastern region of Suffolk: WIGRAED and TILBERTH. Both types are scarce: I've identified about 80 WIGRAED sceattas, and 20 TILBERTH sceattas in my die study. Partly based on this corpus, the expert on series R, Chris Timms published a study on this type, grouping the different coins on style in different subgroups. I've written on the WIGRAED coins before: A short summary of my die study, providing arguments for the mint location A brief write-up on the type My first WIGRAED coin (which was my second sceatta) Upper row: Obv: Radiate bust of crude style right, annulet either side of head, runic ""WIGR"", before, ΛO and pellets behind, wearing collared drapery Rev: Beaded degenerate standard Weight: 0.71g; Ø:12.1 mm. Catalogue: Abramson 11.150 Chris Timms Obv. group 3, subgroup 1. Reverse group 1. Ex. Victor Parsons 05-2023; acq.: 05-2023 Find location: Found near Kings Lynn, Norfolk Published: EMC 2023.0530 Obv: Radiate bust of crude style right, annulet either side of head, runic ""WIGR"", before, ΛO and pellets behind, wearing collared drapery Rev: Beaded degenerate standard Weight: 0.67g; Ø:11.9 mm. Catalogue: Abramson 11.150 Chris Timms Obv. group 3, subgroup 1. Reverse group 1. Find location: Downham Market, Norfolk Published: EMC 2023.0503. Middle row, my two new examples: Obv: Radiate bust of crude style right, annulet either side of head, runic ""WIGR"", before, ΛO and pellets behind, wearing collared drapery Rev: Beaded degenerate standard Weight: 0.98g; Ø:11.4 mm. Find location: Eye, Suffolk (UK) Published: EMC 2024.0463 EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series R10 (Wigraed)), minted: East Anglia, uncertain mint; c. 710-750 AD Obv: Radiate bust of crude style right, annulet either side of head, runic ""WIGR"", before, ΛO and pellets behind, wearing collared drapery Rev: Beaded degenerate standard Weight: 0.7g; Ø:12.5 mm. Find location: Manea in Cambridgeshire Published: EMC 2024.0466 Final row: Obv: Radiate bust of crude style right, annulet either side of head, runic ""WIGR"", before, ΛO and pellets behind, wearing collared drapery Rev: Beaded degenerate standard containing symmetrical geometric symbols, central annulet, cross pommée to each side, diagonals at outer corners Weight: 0.72g; Ø:11 mm. Catalogue: Abramson 11.150 Chris Timms obverse group 1, subgroun 2. Reverse group 2. . Provenance: Coin fair Houten; bought from E. Datema; acq.: 09-2020 Number 8 - TILBERTH Part of the fun of being a specialist is recognizing coins that others don't recognize. This R11 TILBERTH sceatta is of the much scarcer moneyer TILBERTH. It was offered to my privately by a metal detectorist in the UK. It makes me wonder how many rare sceattas are lying unidentified in drawers, boxes, etc ... I'll have to write a thread on TILBERTH - I just found out that this coin hasn't been posted yet. Obv: Crude radiate bust right, crescent ear, elongated lips, runic TILBERHT before with letters forming drapery, also pellet-in-annulet before and two behind separated by ^ Rev: Beaded standard containing pellet-in-central annulet, symmetrical Ts, cross pommée to each side, diagonals at outer corners Weight: 0.63g; Ø:12.1 mm. Catalogue: Abramson 11.170. acq.: 12-2023 Find location: Close to the parish of Abridge in Essex (UK) Published: EMC 2024.0125 Obv: Crude bust to the right, TIL in runic legend before Rev: Standard with four V's around central annulet Weight: 0.98g; Ø:11.3 mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Bought it from a detectorist (found 2000s). ; acq.: 04-2024 Find location: Found near Wisbech, a town on the border of Cambridshire and Norfolk Published: EMC 2024.0141 Number 7 - two rather unusual series A / C or R sceatta's These two unusual coins were both added to my collection this year. I was able to construct a die-study and link different (but stylistically identical) obverse dies to the very typical and uncommon reverse type; see the thread on these two coins here: A reconstruction of the biography of an early medieval moneyer These types of coins, and the study that follows is what makes this hobby so interesting to me. Someone, about 1300-1400 years ago, crafted a die, minted these coins, and it probably never occurred to him (her?) that all those years later, an amateur numismatist would try to reconstruct the series by wear on his reverse and obverse die. These small studies give me a feeling of connection to that person. Obv: Radiate head left, row of pellets below curved crown. Rev: Beaded square around radiating Ts and Is around central pellet, annulet in upper quarter Catalogue: Sceatta list 3-70 (ER).; acq.: 06-2024 Obv: Crude diademed bust to the right Rev: Saltire TToII, within dotted square Catalogue: SL 3-60. Provenance: Ex. De Nederlandsche Postzegel en Muntenveiling, auction 7-8 nov 2024, lot 758; acq.: 11-2024 Find location: Unknown Published: No Number 6 - a nice fantastic beast This coin was offered to me privately in 2023, but the price was too high. In June, I asked the seller whether it was still available, and we agreed on a price. It's not a perfect coin - it has some delamination on the tail of the bird (reverse), some deposits, but these defects stand out mostly on the macro-photo. In hand, it's a really nice coin. AR Sceatta (Series QIIIA, type 64), minted: Anglo-Saxon England; 710-760 Obv: Sinuous quadruped left, looking back and up, tail rising clockwise between hind legs to form triquetra above, foreleg raised, angular feet, pellets in field Rev: Sea bird or eagle right, looking forward, splayed feet, pellets before, rosette behind, triquetra above Catalogue: Sceatta list 65-40. Number 5 - a couple of Series D BMC 2c coins Series D is a diverse series attributed to the continent. It consists of three subtypes: BMC 2c, BMC 8 and the scarce BMC 10. I enjoy the diversity of BMC 2c: a bust (usually to the right) on the obverse, with Runic EAPA or EPA, and a small cross with pseudo-legend on the reverse. A simple design, but with much abstraction. This year, I increased the number from 7 to 11: Upper row: AR Sceatta (Series D, type 2c (Subgroup 3b or c)), minted: Frisia; Primary phase Obv: Abstract head to the left, runic EPA to the left (largely off-flan) Rev: Cross-pommee with garbled legend around; above a cross. Weight: 1.33g; Ø:11 mm. Catalogue: Abramson 8-20. No die match in JMP 2003. Provenance: Ex. DNW 03-11-2020, lot 8; acq.: 11-2020 AR Sceatta (Series D, type 2c (subgroup 3e)), minted: Frisia; 690-715 AD Obv: Abstract bust to the left (as indicated by the nose on the left. This could be interpreted as an ear as well, however in the 2c-types, the ear is uniformly marked as a '>', while this nose is indicated by a '<', i.e. facing the other direction. Also, the runic legend EPA is partly visible on the left. For right-facing busts, this is always on the right.), wearing dotted crown (indicated by a concave line with dots below and zig-zag pattern above - largely off-flan); torso below (indicated by concave line with dots below). Rev: Cross-pommee, with one end ending in an annulet. A dot in each quadrant; zig-zag pattern around Weight: 1.07g; Ø:11 mm. Catalogue: Abramson 8-20. Die match in JMP 2003 nr 779-781 (obv & rev). Provenance: Ex Schulman auction 2-10-2020, lot 2951; acq.: 10-2020 Below: AR Sceatta (Series D, type 2c (subgroup 3f)), minted: Frisia; 710-750 AD Obv: Very abstracted head, consisting of pellets; no ear, nose or legend on flan, typical zig-zag crown and beaded exergue Rev: Cross-pommee, lines around Weight: 0.73g; Ø:10.5x10.8 mm. Catalogue: No die-match in JMP 2003. Provenance: Bought on Ebay from laptiote (ID: 375076622414); acq.: 11-2023 Find location: Département 89(l'yonne) Published: No Cleaned AR Sceatta (Series D, type 2c (subgroup 3g or h)), minted: Frisia; 690-715 AD Obv: Degenerated diademed head, runic inscriptings before Rev: Central cross-pommee with dots on each corner; cross above, annulet below. Weight: 1.23g; Ø:11 mm. Catalogue: Abramson 8-10. No die match in JMP 2003.. Provenance: Bought from finder; acq.: 04-2020 Find location: Oud-Zevenaar, The Netherlands, near the assumed location of an 8th century church Published: Numis nr: 1150618 Below: AR Sceatta (Series D, type 2c (subgroup 4b)), minted: Frisia; 695-715 AD Obv: Abstract bust to the right, Runic EPA before Rev: Central cross, with pellets in each quarter, large annulet above. VVVVs around Weight: 1.21g; Ø:11.4 mm. Catalogue: Abramson 8-10.. Provenance: Bought from Finder (Jean Peusens) ex. Heritage Coin Auction May 2019, lot 6502 (unsold); acq.: 11-2022 Find location: Maastricht, The Netherlands Published: Numis: 1165547 Nice, even dark tone, well detailed. AR Sceatta (Series D, type 2c (uncertain subgroup)), minted: Possibly England; 695-715 AD Obv: Abstract head, garbled legend Rev: Central cross with four pellets around, below annulet, above cross-pommee, runic letters around. Weight: 1.08g; Ø:13 mm. Catalogue: Abramson 8-10. Provenance: Bought from M. Eldijk, who bought it from the finder; acq.: 09-2019 Find location: Unknown Published: no Series D (Continental Runetype), Type 2c, sub-variety 3c (with head right (it often faces left in sub-variety 3c), reverse die-match to the major 3c die-chain). Based on find-material, these are quite possibly English imitations of the continental sceattas, which in turn are imitations of early English Sceattas. Below: AR Sceatta (Series D, type 2c (subgroup 4c)), minted: Frisia; c.700-715 AD Obv: Radiated bust to the right with portruding chin. Pseudo-runes before, attached with zig-zag lines. Stripes below. Rev: Central cross with pellets in each corner. Annulet flanked with small pellets below Weight: 1.12g; Ø:10.7 mm. Catalogue: Not in JMP 2003. Provenance: Ex. Alex Taylor, who bought it from finder. ; acq.: 05-2024 AR Sceatta (Series D, type 2c (subgroup 4c)), minted: Frisia; c.700-715 AD Obv: Radiated bust to the right with portruding chin. Pseudo-runes before, attached with zig-zag lines. Stripes below. Rev: Central cross with pellets in each corner. Annulet flanked with small pellets below Weight: 1.14g; Ø:11 mm. Catalogue: Not in JMP 2003. Provenance: Ex. Alex Taylor, who bought it from finder. ; acq.: 05-2024 Find location: Unknown Published: No Test scratch on bust. Below: AR Sceatta (Series D, type 2c (uncertain subgroup)), minted: Frisia; c.700-715 AD Obv: Radiated bust to the right. Small head between two straight lines and pellets. Rev: Central cross with pellets in each corner. Weight: 0g; Ø:11 mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Ex. Alex Taylor, who bought it from finder. ; acq.: 05-2024 (text will follow - coin still on it's way Final row: AR Sceatta (Series D, type 2c (uncertain subgroup)), minted: Frisia (Francia?); 715-755 Obv: Off-center bust to right, abstract elements Rev: Central cross-pommee Weight: 1.21g; Ø:10.1x11.2 mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: Bought from Geoffrey Winstein, Luxembourg. From a French collection from Burgondy; acq.: 01-2024 -- note: I'll post coin 4-1 later: have to go to work! Number 4: a hoard coin The next coin isn't rare or unique, but it's the context that makes it special. It's a series H ("Hamwic") type 49, which usually shows a central face surrounded by annulets on the obverse, and a bird on the reverse. In this example, the obverse is obscured by a thick layer of encrustations, with the imprint of another coin (also a series H sceatta). The hoard was registered in PAS under PAS DOR-FDF0AC. Treasure number 2021 T448, though strangely enough I can't find it in PAS. AR Sceatta (Series H, type 49), minted: Hamwic (Southampton); 720-745 Obv: Imprint of type 39 or 49 reverse sceatta; underneath visible bosses of type 49 obverse Rev: peacock striding right, head feathers raised, roundel above and below, pellets in fiel Weight: 0g; Ø: mm. Catalogue: . Provenance: acq.: 06-2024 Find location: Dorset, West Knighton, 2015 Published: PAS DOR-FDF0AC. Treasure number 2021 T448 Part of a treasure of two series H type 39 sceattas, with the imprint of one sceatta in the thick layer of patina on the obverse (obscuring the obverse) Number 3 A Merovingian denier The distinction between Sceattas and Merovingian deniers is a bit arbitrary. Sceattas were minted in England, but also on the continent (mostly in the current Netherlands, but also in Denmark and probably also in Belgium and the coastal region of France), whereas Merovingian deniers are mostly minted in France. However, sceattas can turn op in France, and Merovingian deniers are found in England, but also in the Netherlands (I'm currently writing an article of a small hoard of sceattas and a Merovingian denier, found in North-Netherlands). This specific coin is stylistically however clearly a Merovingian denier. It shows a helmeted bust to the right, with a large ear, eye and nose, and a mirrored S before. The reverse shows a monogram. The minting location remains unknown: it's a newly discovered type not included in the standard references. I recognized it as just a couple of weeks before it was privately offered to me, a large Swiss collection of Merovingian coins was auctioned, including two similar deniers. I've written a short write-up on this coin here: Write up and die-study on this denier Denomination: AR Denier, minted: France, attributed to Seine-Maritime ; c725-750 Obv: Helmeted head to right; in front, retrograde S Rev: Monogram; above, below and to left, cross Catalogue: Not in Belfort, but similar monogram (horizontally mirrored) to Belfor 5656. Similar, but different dies to Elsen 118 lot 530 and Obolos 32 lot 35. Number 2: a Picassoesque series Q This coin was offered privately by the finder. It's an extremely rare series Q coin - there's only one other example known, which is in the collection of our forummember @Nap. AR Sceatta (Series QIE), minted: East Anglia (West Norfolk?); c730-750 Obv: Crude diademend head to the right, cross and pellets before Rev: Fantastic bird to the left, cross before, pellets behind. Weight: 0g; Ø: mm. Catalogue: Not in SL. Found it in march 2023; acq.: 09-2024 Find location: Bourne, Lincolnshire Published: EMC 2024.0343. The obverse of Nap's coin has been recut: area's of die-recutting marked: This is, to my knowledge (I've also discussed this with Martin Allen from EMC and Tony Abramson), the first example of a sceatta where die-recutting has been taken place. Number 1 - a Viking artefact This artefact would've been my number 2. In 2023, I purchased a Madelinus tremissis from Dorestad. These coins are relatively scarce, but not rare; I've posted on the coin before (see here). In June this year, someone in the UK found a much rarer Madelinus from Maastricht: a coin that has been on my bucket list since I started collecting. Similarly to the WIGRAED's, TILBERTH's and the saltire-reverse coin (nr. 7), it allows me to 'follow' the life of a person that once lived: the die studies of Wigraed and Tilberth allows me to pinpoint where these moneyers most likely lived, the die-chain of the salitre-reverse coin allowed me to follow the stylistic progress of that anonymous moneyer. And we know that Madelinus moved from Maastricht to Dorestad somewhere around 600-650 AD. I assisted in the identification of the find, and chatted for a couple of months with the seller. He registered his find in PAS, and at first didn't want to sell it. So I helped him contact the Maastricht museum to exhibit it, but that didn't work out. Finally, in November, he contacted me and we agreed on a price. We set a date so I could pick it up (so not to loose it in post), but just a couple of days ago (I already booked the ferry and the housing), he cancelled the deal without explanation... The artefact shown here however also deserves a number 1 spot, as it's an extremely rare Viking weight with a gilded silver inset, showing two birds facing an annulet. I spotted it in a group lot of metaldetecting finds and immediately recognized it as a Viking weight. I've not yet written much on it on this forum (see here for the initial post), and it deserves a deeper study. It's really heavy in hand with 121g (!) - the weighing probably as much as my entire sceatta collection. The origin and meaning of the gilded inset is uncertain: a study on these types of weighs proposed a number of theories why Vikings used these valuable insets in their weights (instead of, say, stamping the weigh). For many of these weights, parts of fibulae or jewelry was used, most likely raided treasure. Someone suggested the two birds might be the ravens of Odin (a theory which I like, but obviously cannot prove). I like holding this object in my hand, as it tells a story. A story of a Viking band, raiding England, capturing treasure - cutting out a meaningful part of a fibula, incorporating this in a clump of lead to divide the rest of the treasure. ARTEFACT, Viking. Mostly lead, with gilded silver inset Find location: Presumably Norfolk Published: emailed to British Museum, no response Chocolate brown heavy round lead weight with a gilded silver inlet. The inlet shows two birds facing each other. A central pellet-within-annulet between. Various sratches under the patina, but no markings. The object is slightly oval, and measures 33x31x16mm (inset: 15.7x9.5mm). It weighs 121.33g. Edited December 30, 2024 by Roerbakmix 25 2 Quote
CPK Posted December 30, 2024 · Supporter Posted December 30, 2024 Very nice coins! I like that Viking weight - as you say it's fascinating to imagine the history and events that these objects witnessed. 1 Quote
Ryro Posted December 30, 2024 · Supporter Posted December 30, 2024 Excellent year @Roerbakmix thanks for sharing! Incredible viking artifact, and I love the fantastic bird on the reverse of your Q series! 1 Quote
Roerbakmix Posted December 30, 2024 · Member Author Posted December 30, 2024 Thanks @CPK and @Ryro! 3 Quote
John Conduitt Posted December 30, 2024 · Supporter Posted December 30, 2024 Interesting write up with a lot of research and some rare coins you hardly ever see. It's pretty amazing to have a collection including 4 thrymsas and only having spent €247! Maybe I will end up helping you with some of those UK-found sceattas 🤣 1 Quote
panzerman Posted December 31, 2024 · Member Posted December 31, 2024 Interesting coins from the so called "Dark Ages" I also love collecting from this period in history. Thanks for sharing. John Quote
Qcumbor Posted January 4 · Supporter Posted January 4 A top ten to my liking with 31 coins making it in the top 10 ! I'm blown away by your #6 fantastic beast Q Quote
Svessien Posted January 4 · Member Posted January 4 What a fantastic group of coins, and so thoroughly studied! I love the beast coins! Quote
SteveJBrinkman Posted January 5 · Member Posted January 5 I like the Fantastic Beast, #6. Very interesting design, and nice quality. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.