Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
Mon Dec 6, 2021, 12:09 PM Dec 2021

Rare Anglo-Saxon gold coin found in Wiltshire valued at $265,040.00

An extremely rare gold Anglo-Saxon coin has been discovered in a field in Wiltshire which experts say could fetch up to £200,000 at auction. Weighing less than 5 grams, the Gold Penny, or Mancus of 30 Pence, was struck during the time of Ecgberht, King of the West Saxons between 802 and 839.

Thought to be the only late Anglo-Saxon gold coin in private hands, it is expected to fetch between £150,000 and £200,000 at auction on 8 September. Auctioneer Peter Preston-Morley, from London-based Dix Noonan Webb, said "Gold coins of this monarch were completely unknown until this one was found," he said. The coin was analysed in June 2021 and found to be made of "high-purity gold".

Struck at a West Saxon mint, possibly in Southampton or Winchester, the coin bears the King's title 'Ecgbeorht Rex' around a monogram of the word Saxon. Mr Preston-Morley said only eight other known gold coins were struck in England between 630 and 1257, seven of which are now held at the British museum.

It is believed orders for coins to be struck were only given on special occasions or religious events, and the coins were produced for ceremonial or high-status payments. "They would have been extremely valuable coins," he said. "A single gold coin would have bought the equivalent of 360 loaves of wheat bread."

Mr Preston-Morley added it had not been possible to date the coin to a more specific period due to limited records from Ecgberht's reign .

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-58028670

3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Rare Anglo-Saxon gold coin found in Wiltshire valued at $265,040.00 (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Dec 2021 OP
The crypto of its era, only passed among elites bucolic_frolic Dec 2021 #1
DAMN!!! I sold one the other day for only $265,038.75 !! eppur_se_muova Dec 2021 #2
It's beautiful! I notice the word rex...I wouldn't have expected Latin so long after the Romans Karadeniz Dec 2021 #3

eppur_se_muova

(37,403 posts)
2. DAMN!!! I sold one the other day for only $265,038.75 !!
Mon Dec 6, 2021, 01:14 PM
Dec 2021

That's what happens when you're not adequately informed about the current market.



























(I know, I know -- they converted from pounds sterling and copied whatever their computer/calculator gave them, to the last decimal ... )

Karadeniz

(23,423 posts)
3. It's beautiful! I notice the word rex...I wouldn't have expected Latin so long after the Romans
Mon Dec 6, 2021, 02:45 PM
Dec 2021

left. Also, does moneta mean money? I'll have to look up the ancestry of our word.

Back... Juno Moneta was the name given to Juno in her temple in the Roman forum...from moneo/monere, to warn, as in admonish... Her job was to warn Romans of danger. Her temple became the location of their mint, another monere word. The mint ran...curro, currere... all day and night, so currency resulted from all that running. Also, ergo these financial words are usually feminine in gender due to Juno.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»World History»Rare Anglo-Saxon gold coi...