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Auction: 15005 - Ancient, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 390

Edward the Confessor (1042-66), Penny, 1.45g, Expanding cross type, Heavy issue, Wallingford, Brihtric, helmeted bust left, sceptre before, bar struck into die by bust and extending over sceptre, rev. +brihtric on pal, voided short cross with expanding arms extending from central pellet within two circles (Boon, p.24; Freeman 45; N.823; S.1177), once gold gilt for use as jewellery, some remains, general weakness on this, fine, an intriguing and numismatically interesting piece

Gorge Boon illustrates on p.24 of 'Coins of the Anarchy 1135-54' an Expanding cross penny of Canterbury with a bar across the sceptre. This, he believes, is an indication that the die was cancelled at the mint and then subsequently mobilized for use. Boon writes '...occasionally cancelled dies were in emergency use at other periods, and the National Museum collection includes a Canterbury penny of the Confessor with a cancellation-bar across the sceptre'. This piece, of the same reign and type could also fit into the same category. One possible explanation for the gold gilding is that the piece was taken from circulation after being rejected for trade due to the cancellation mark.

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