Kings of Kent
Ethilberht II. from 725 to 760.
Ethilberht II. and Edbert commenced a united reign in 725; but from 749 Ethilberht reigned alone; to
him there is only one coin imputed, and the peculiarity of the type, combined with the general
appearance of the workmanship, causes its genuineness to be more than suspected. It represents
the King's head to the right with his name ETHILBERHT @@@; the Wolf suckling Romulus and Remus,
with the title REX. (51), Rud. iii.
This coin, if genuine, would be in many respects remarkable; it would be the first instance, in the
kingdom of Kent, of a coin of the denomination of the silver penny, which has continued in one
unbroken series down to the present day; the sceatta now disappearing and the penny assuming its
place. The type too is remarkable, being copied from a Roman coin, for what causes it is impossible to
imagine. It would too be a proof, that, although the weight and form of Saxon and Roman monies did
not agree, the Roman had still some influence in the decoration of the Saxon coin; its thinness,
breadth, and flatness corresponding somewhat with the appearance of some of the silver coins of the
lower empire.
This piece was bought by the British Museum at Mr. Barker's sale in 1803 for £1. 8. This price, for a
unique coins, is a sufficient proof that collectors doubted its authenticity.
Kent - Ethilberht I |
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