AElfred, 872 to 901.
In 872 AElfred succeeded his brother AEthelred, and held the sceptre till 901. His coins are pennies,
but there are some pieces in existence which will not be ranged under that class; all are very rare. The
types are,
- His portrait very rudely executed with his name AELBRED REX. Rev. moneyer's name, in three lines,
exactly resembling the coins of his brother and predecessors, as also those of Burgred, &c. kings of
Mercia. (172). Rud. xv. 1-5. MB. 9. With this type of the reverse is a very rare coin of similar
workmanship, the legend of which is ELFERED M--X+. It is difficult to suppose that Maximus was
intended and as difficult to form any other reasonable jecture. (173) MB. W. SHEPPARD, Esq.,
Frome.
- His portrait in a very improved taste and very different style; and his name spelt with an F. Rev. the
monogram of London. (174) with sometimes the moneyer's name. Rud. xv. 6-9. MB 4.
- Without any portrait, a simple cross being substituted, and the king's name spelt sometimes with E
instead of AE. (175). Rud. xv. 10, 11. xvi. 12, 13. and xxviii. MB. 3.
Upon one of these DORO for Dorobernia is added after his titles. Rud. xv. 10.
- ORSNAFORD for Oxford forming, with the king's name, three lines across the field. Rud. xvi. 14. The
reverses of No. 3 and 4, have the moneyer's name in two lines.
- The king's bust and titles. Rev. a lozenge, containing a cross, from each corner of which issues a plain
cross, the long limb extending to the edge of the coin. (176). Rud. C. 16. CUFF. Compare with
with Ciolwlf, Rud. vii. 2. This is an interesting coin tending to prove that the other belonged to Ciolwlf
called the 2nd, who was cotemporary with AElfred.
Of the type No. w. is a small coin found in gravel dredged from the Thames, and now in the collection
of Mr. Thomas. (177). It weights 11 1/10 gr. and must therefore be considered a halfpenny, unless it
owes its lightness to decomposition from which it has certainly suffered very much.
A very peculiar piece will be found, (178) 1 5/16 inch in diameter and weighing 162 gr. It is right to
make the reader acquainted with the existence of so curious a piece, though it must be considered
more in the light of a medal than of a coin. It is in the possession of Mr. Garland.
The names of London, Canterbury and Oxford are mentioned as mints upon the coins of AElfred, and
between 30 and 40 variations of moneyers' names appear. Those coins, resembling those of his
brother in type, are also, like them, of inferior metal and lighter in weight, rarely reaching 20 gr. while
the other two types of his later years are of good silver, and weight 24 gr.
Aethelbald, Aethelbearht, and Aethelred |
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