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Auction: 16019 - The Academic Collection of Lord Stewartby: English Coins part 1, Anglo-Saxon and Norman Coins
Lot: 66

Kent, Ecgberht II (c. 765-c.780), Penny, 0.96g., Canterbury, Babba, +EGCBERHT, RX within inner circle, rev. BABBA in angles of long cross crosslet (Chick 85d – this coin; SCBI 20, 639 – this coin; N.199; S.874), reverse metal occlusion, ?pierced, minor edge loss and some scuffs, good fine, extremely rare, a great rarity

PROVENANCE
Bt, Spink, September 1991
D. Dupree, collection acquired by Spink, 1990
Commander R.P. Mack, SCBI 20, 639
R.C. Lockett III, Glendining, 4-6 November 1958, 2628
G.J. Bascom, Sotheby, 15 June 1914, 12
E.W. Rashleigh, Sotheby, 21 June 1909
J.D. Cuff, Sotheby 8 June 1854, 279

The Lockett sale and Chick both note this coin as pierced, but this is not stated in the Mack Sylloge. The metal occlusion on the reverse might typically appear to be a plug but there is no sign of this in the corresponding place on the obverse. It is possible there was damage to the reverse surface which was repaired.

The pennies of Heaberht and Ecgberht II of Kent are the among the earliest broad-flan pennies to be struck and pre-date the main light coinage of Offa. Chick lists twenty-two surviving coins of Ecgberht II, with four of this type

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Sold for
£2,100