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Auction: 15005 - Ancient, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 327

Wessex, Edward the Elder (899-924), Penny, 1.54g, Portrait type, mint in Wessex, stylized diademed bust left with hair tied behind neck, rev. vvlf / red mo divided by three small cross pattée, trefoil above and below (CTCE No 45, p.58; N.651; S.1084), peripheral flan loss from 6 o'clock to 11 o'clock, general wear and some graffiti, by reverse crosses, otherwise evenly toned and with full legends, very fine, this bust variety extremely rare

provenance:
Bt. Seaby, February 1977, £375 (ticket by Robert Sharman)
SNC, October 1974, No.8226 (illustrated), £600

This stylized bust of Edward the Elder is a veritable departure from the more generic styles usually encountered. It is certainly noteworthy that the king is depicted with the hair long and tied back behind the bust as well as the much more life-like depiction of the king's features. Arguably there are stylistic similarities between this bust style and the earlier secondary phase (c.710-c.760) sceatta coinage of Series K and L. It is, of course, possible that these pieces inspired the die-cutter and may even have been used as a model on which to base the current portrait.

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Sold for
£1,300