Date: c. 1009-1011

Description:

Hiberno-Norse Silver Penny, Phase 1, Class C (Imitating Æthelred II Helmet type). Struck in the name of Æthelred II. Chester mint signature, Moneyer: Gunleof

• Diameter: 18 mm
• Weight: 1.16 g

References: Blackburn, Studies in Late Anglo-Saxon Coinage, pp 11-24, dies 3/16 = this coin; Chown, SNC 1989, pp. 256-257; Seaby 6116

• Flan slightly bent and face smoothed
• Peck marks on both sides (well circulated)
• Very Fine (VF)
  • Extremely rare

Obverse:

• Bust left, wearing armour and radiate helmet
• Badly blundered Legend: + æÐELRæÐ REX AIP
  • Translates as: Æthelred, King of England

Reverse:

• Voided long cross, with pellet in center and triple crescent ends, over square with trefoil at each point.
• Blundered Legend: + GM NLEO FN°O LEIGI
  • Translates as: Gunleof, Moneyer of Chester

Country:

• Ireland

Category:

• Hiberno-Norse
  • Phase I
  • Class C (Helmet issue)
    • Mint = Chester
    • Moneyer = Gunleof
• Hammered

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Additional Information:

The British numismatist Michael Dolley classified Hiberno-Norse coins into seven distinct “phases”, covering a period of over 150 years.

About the year 995, Sihtric III “Silkbeard”, (also spelled Sitrick, Sigtrygg, Sitriuc and many other variants) King of Dublin, issued silver pennies that closely imitated the contemporary Anglo-Saxon coins of English King Aethelred II.

• Some of Sihtric’s coins bear his own name, and spell out the name of Dublin (“DYFLIN,”); others simply copy the names of Aethelred and various English mints and moneyers.
• These were the first coins struck in Ireland
  • The reason for issuing them was probably both
    • practical (to pay mercenaries)
    • symbolic (to enhance the king’s prestige by displaying his wealth and power)

Phase I coinage lasted 20-25 years, and went through several design changes.

• The most common type imitates Aethelred’s “Long Cross” issue, bearing an obverse image of a bare-headed king draped in a cloak. The “voided cross” reverse could serve as a guide for cutting the coin into halves or quarters, since no smaller denominations were struck.
  • Class A          996-1001         Crux issue (King Aethelred II)
  • Class B        1002-1008          Long Cross issue (King Aethelred II)
  • Class C        1009-1011          Helmet issue (King Aethelred II)
  • Class D        1011-1016          Small Cross issue (King Aethelred II)
  • Class E        1016-1018          Quatrefoil issue (King Cnut)
  • Class F        1024-1030          Pointed Helmet issue (King Cnut) in the name of Sihtric – none known
  • Class ?        1024-1030          Pointed Helmet issue (King Cnut) in the name of Anlaf Sihtricsson – one ‘unique’ piece recently found

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Other Coins in this Series:

• The Old Currency Exchange: Checklist (Hiberno-Norse)

Further Reading:

• O’Brien Coin Guide: Anglo-Saxon Coins & Their Links to Ireland
• O’Brien Coin Guide: Who Introduced Anglo-Saxon Coins to Ireland and why ?
• O’Brien Coin Guide: Introduction to the Hiberno-Norse Coinages of the Late 10th & Early 11th C
  • Blog Post: The ‘life & times’ of Sihtric Silkenbeard, King of Dublin