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Auction: 18012 - The Williams Collection Part II, Anglo-Saxon and Viking Coins
Lot: 164

(x) Aethelred II (978-1016), Penny, 1.32g, Long Cross type, Gothabyrig, Wulfmaer, + æÐelræd rex angl, ng ligate, draped bust left, no inner circle, bust divides legend, rev. + pvl fmær mog eoÐa, voided long cross (Dolly and Elmore Jones, BNJ 28 (1955-57), pp. 270-282, and pl. XXII, no. 1 same dies; SCBI 7 (Copenhagen) 362 and SCBI 50 (Hermitage) 687 same dies; N.774; S.1151), surface cracks and peck marks both sides, otherwise near very fine, very rare

provenance:
Purchased from Baldwin, August 1994
Spink Numismatic Circular, March 1990, no. 954
Doubleday, Glendining, 6 October 1987, lot 142
Duke of Argyll collection purchased en bloc by Spink after 1949
Drabble, Sotheby, 4-6 July 1939, lot 473

This issue was the first from this mint, and Dolley and Elmore-Jones knew of only one pair of dies. 'A date comparatively late in the 'Long Cross' issue seems indicated by the fact that only the one pair of dies is known for this type, whereas in the normally less prolific 'Helmet' issue three pairs of dies are recorded in four combinations....
A strong Devonshire flavour is already apparent, and it will be the suggestion of this paper that the moneyer Wulfmaer at 'Gothaburh' is one and the same individual as the Wulfmaer who strikes at Barnstaple and Totnes.' (The Mints 'æt Gothabyrig' and 'æt Sith(m)estebyrig', BNJ XXVIII, p. 271)

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Sold for
£1,000