Aldfrid, 685 to 705.
It can scarcely admit of a doubt that to this king must be assigned two coins, which have been the
subject of much discussion in the Numismatic Journal; both are exactly alike in type and legend, but
are very remarkable from being, one of silver of good quality; the other copper with, perhaps some
mixture of other metals; one a sceatta, the other a styca. The type of these coins presents on one
side a four footed animal, but of what description we may be excused from asserting; on the other
side a small cross with the name of the king. The sceatta (100) is in the collection of Mr. Cuff, the styca
(101) in that of Mr. Luscombe.
Eadberht, 737 to 758.
There is a series of coins, well known to collectors, which have hitherto been assigned to Ecgberht king
of Kent, but which we are now disposed to remove to Northumberland. They have on one side a
small cross with the word EOTBEREhtVΓ, which we consider to be the name of Eadberht; on
the other side is a figure holding, what have been called, two sceptres, but which are in fact two
crosses; the legend is ECGBERHT, with some other small indistinct letters, which appear to be AR. It is
on account of this name that these coins have been attributed to Ecgberht king of Kent; but which
have confirmed us in assigning them to Eadberht king of Northumberland, whose brother was
Ecgberht, Archbishop of York, whose name ane figure we believe to be here represented, (102), Rud.
iii. 1, 2. The other coins of this series which are less rare have a similar obverse, but the name is in one
instance spelt backwards, F. 5. in another it is spelt EADBEREhTVΓ, f. 3. The reverse in all these
is a four footed animal, as in the coins of Aldfrid, with one or more small ornaments, (103) (104) Rud. iii.
3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. and xxvi. MB.
From the general similarity of type, between these coins and those of Aldfrid, there can be little doubt
that they below to the same kingdom; and that the name is that of a king and not of a moneyer, as has
been hitherto supposed; for there is not any instance of a series of moneyers inscribing their names
upon coins, and omitting systematically that of the king under whose authority they struck them.
These coins may be called sceattae, being of silver, but of a very base quality.
Northumberland - Ecgfrith |
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Northumberland - Alchred and Elfwald
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