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Auction: 14006 - Ancient, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 91

Mercia, Ceolwulf II (874-c.880), Penny, 1.36, cross and lozenge type, London style, Liofvald, diademed bust right, ciolwlf rex:·, trefoil of pellets at end of regnal title, rev. liof / vald / mo / net in angles of cross crosslet with lozenge centre and a plain cross within (Blackburn and Keynes 35 - this coin; BNJ 1963, Dolley p.88-9, Pl.VIII, 8 - this coin; N.429; S.944), once cleaned, now pleasantly retoned, unobtrusive pecks to reverse, large intact flan, clearly struck using re-engraved dies with the undertype visible, particularly legible is what appears to read F REX in first/second quarters of reverse, nearly extremely fine, previously graded XF40 by NGC, of great interest and rarity

provenance
The Millennia Collection, Goldberg, 26 May 2008, lot 194 ($15,000)
Jacob Y. Terner collection
Lawrence R. Stack, Sotheby, 22-23 April 1999, lot 337, pl.VII.
Christie's, 10-11 October 1989, lot 458, the first lot of 17 pieces stated in the sales catalogue as emanating from the Cuerdale hoard (£9,500)
Stonyhurst College collection, from a Cuerdale parcel acquired by the college c.1840s?
Cuerdale (Lancashire) hoard, discovered 15 May 1840 on the south bank of the River Ribble

The two types listed under Ceolwulf II of Mercia are both of great numismatic interest. Both types were also struck by Alfred of Wessex, the first of which copies the reverse of a fourth century solidus. In addition to Mercia and Wessex, the cross and lozenge type was also struck in Kent and also the Danelaw. Surviving specimens of Ceolwulf amounted to nine when Dolley penned his 1963 BNJ article on 'An unpublished hoard-provenance for a penny of Ceolwulf II of Mercia' and of these nine, five were in museum collections (four in the British Museum and one in the Hunterian). Since the onset of metal detecting other pieces have surfaced but in very low numbers. The current piece is, without doubt, one of the finest specimens, as well as having a superb 174 year old provenance.

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Sold for
£15,000

Sale 14006 Notices
An alternative theory to account for the appearance of F REX on the reverse is that the coin was "overturned in the die" as described in the Christie's catalogue 10 and 11 October 1989 and "has been turned over in the die and struck twice" as described in the Sotheby's catalogue of 22 and 23 April 1999.