Date: c. 995-1015

Hiberno-Norse Penny, Phase I, Class B, Penny, 1.10 g. in the name of Aethelred II of England (Dublin Mint)

Description:

An Hiberno-Norse Phase I, Class B Silver Penny. Dublin mint, moneyer: unknown.

• Weight: 1.10 g
• References:
  • DF 13; Seaby 6107
• Well-struck on a neat round flan, well circulated and quite worn, cracked flan, , otherwise almost Very Fine (aVF)
• Scarce

Obverse:

• Draped bust left with large pellet behind neck
• Clear, legible obverse legend:
  • + EDELRED REX ANGL
    • (translates as “Ethelred, King of England”)

Reverse:

• Long voided cross, with triple crescent ends and pellet in each angle
• Clear but blundered reverse legend:
  • + DP NGM AOL INIO
    • (translates as Moneyer = “? of Dublin”)

Country:

• Ireland

Category:

• Hiberno-Norse
  • Phase 1
    • Class B (Long Cross)
• Hammered

Additional Information:

During Phase II (c. 1018 to 1035) the coinage became lighter, possibly reflecting the declining fortunes of the Kingdom of Dublin.

• Early Phase I coins weighed about 1.5 grammes (This is late Phase I @ 0.10g)
  • By Phase II the average weight of the coinage is reduced to 1.2 grammes

The inscriptions (legends) on Phase II coins are, typically, ‘blundered’

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