AEthelweard.
The history of East Anglia, about the commencement of the ninth century, is involved in more than
usual obscurity, and the names of its kings are unknown. Though we are informed that the people,
with the king at their head, sought protection of Ecgbeorht against the Mercians, about 823, yet the
name even of this king is not recorded. It was probably by some of these unknown kings that the
coins were struck, which have hitherto been assigned to the West Saxons. The coins of AEthelweard,
in their types, names of moneyers, formation of letters and in workmanship, so closely agree with
those of Eadmund, who will presently be noticed, that we must suppose them to have been struck in
the same place, and about the same time. Compare Ruding's AEthelweard, iii. 1. with Eadmund ix. 6, 7;
iii. 2, 3, 4, 5. with ix. 1, 2, 3, 4.: and xxix. 13. with ix. 9. See Combe's paper Archaeol. vol. xix. p. 111. and
Rud. vol. i. p. 321, 2nd. edit. It is more than probable, therefore, that AEthelweard is one of the East
Anglian kings whose names have not been transmitted to us. His coins are in the usual form of pennies
and weigh about 20 grains; five names of his moneyers are known. His name is written AEthelweard
or Ethelpard and he is merely styled Rex, unless the letter which forms the type of most of his coins is
the initial of Anglia. The types of his obverses are,
- The letter A. (90), Rud. iii. 2, 3, 4, 5. xxvi. 2, 3. MB. 5.
- A cross, with a crescent in each angle. (91). Rud. iii. 1. xxvi. 1. MB. 2.
- A small cross issuing from two united annulets, (92), Rud. xxix. 13. MB. 1.
The reverses consist of a cross with a pellet or some small object in each angle.
East Angles - Beonna and Ethelred |
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East Angles - Beorhtric and Eadmund
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