Æthelred II (978-1016), 1. Penny, CRVX type, Barnstaple, Beorhtsige, byrhsige [–]o bard,...

A lost parcel of CRVX Pennies from the 1886 Isleworth Hoard Æthelred II (978-1016), 1. Penny, CRVX type, Barnstaple, Beorhtsige, byrhsige [–]o bard, 1.44g/2h (BEH 25; N 770; S 1148) 2. Penny, CRVX type, Canterbury, Goldwine, goldp[–]-o cæntp, 1.44g/3h (BEH 135; N 770; S 1148) 3. Penny, CRVX type, Exeter, Edric, edric m-o eaxc[–], 1.29g/2h (BEH 519; N 770; S 1148) 4. Penny, small CRVX type, Cambridge, Ælfric, alfric m[––]ant, 1.05g/5h (BEH 1140-1; N 770 var.; S 1149) 5. Penny, CRVX type, London, Eadmund, eadm[––]d m-o lvn, 1.21g/5h (BEH 2335; N 770; S 1148) 6. Penny, CRVX type, London, Godric, godric [––]nd, 1.18g/2h (BEH 2581; N 770; S 1148) 7. Penny, CRVX type, London, Leofstan, leofsta[–] lvn, 1.24g/12h (BEH 2719; N 770; S 1148) 8. Penny, CRVX type, Rochester, Eadsige, edsige m-o [–]fe, 1.17g/12h (BEH 3282; N 770; S 1148) 9. Penny, CRVX type, London, Eadwold, eadp[––] lvn, 1.13g/2h (BEH 2424; N 770; S 1148) 10. Penny, CRVX type, Maldon, Aelfwine, ael[––]aeld, 0.91g/9h (BEH 3069-70; N 770; S 1148) 11. Penny, CRVX type, Uncertain mint, possibly London or Thetford, Eadwerd, edperd m-o [–], 1.20g/12h (BEH 2468-70 or 3723; N 770; S 1148) 12. Penny, CRVX type, Uncertain mint, Eadwold, eadpold m[–], 1.08g/8h (N 770; S 1148) Together with seven small fragments. Fair to good fine with consistent hoard patination; none of the coins complete, but most quite identifiable and some recognisable in Grueber’s 1886 listing; a most interesting study group which serves to revise our understanding of this academically important hoard; very rare as a group to commerce £1,000-£1,500 --- Provenance: Found as part of the Isleworth Hoard of Anglo Saxon Pennies in 1886, and recorded (in part) at the time by H.A. Grueber of the British Museum. On the 11th March 1886 labourers sinking foundations in the grounds of coach-builder on Twickenham Road came across an antique earthen ware jar. As they struggled to retrieve it, the vessel cracked and a stream of silver sprang forth. The coins were quickly gathered up, and distributed amongst those present. A ‘sample’ of twenty eight coins appeared before the Treasury, and these are those recorded in Herbert Grueber’s note in the Numismatic Chronicle for 1886. The parcel set before Grueber, which informs all later accounts of the hoard, comprised coins of the third, fourth and fifth types issued in the reign of Æthelred II - that is Second Hand to CRVX - with the hoard weighted significantly towards the latter. In its mints the hoard shows a strong regional bias, with a preponderance of coins of London followed by smaller representations from numerous mints in Greater Wessex. Grueber listed each mint/moneyer reading for the parcel he saw and, when damage to the coins obscured readings, noted this as well. It is possible to positively identify the nos. 2, 5 and 10 from the present parcel in Grueber’s list; it is also possible that no. 6 is to be found described by Grueber, but the matter is left obscure by the author’s neglecting to give the full reading for the noted ‘broken’ specimen of this mint/moneyer combination. Several of the coins in Grueber’s listing do not appear in the current parcel. More excitingly, the current parcel provides several additions to the known listings of the Isleworth Hoard. Barnstaple (no. 1) and Cambridge (no. 4) are two such new additions; the former agreeing with the previously observed pattern of geographical distribution, whilst the latter does not, and sits alongside the CRVX penny of Thetford seen by Grueber but absent here.