Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3061 7-8 Jan 2018
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Great Britain
Kings of Mercia. Cynethryth (Wife of Offa, 757-796) Penny (c. 784-5) XF45 NGC, Canterbury mint, Eoba as moneyer, Light coinage, portrait type, S-909, North-339. EʘBA, draped bust of Queen Cynethryth right; trefoils and pellets in and around legend / + CYNEδRYδ REGIN, macron over Mercian M; all within pelleted circular border; pellet and trefoil in legend. Extremely rare and highly attractive, this charmingly toned specimen features a strong strike and good metal for the issue. Some deposits are noted, but do not detract from its elegance. The only example certified by NGC, the present piece is assuredly one of the finest known and will undoubtedly generate a tremendous degree of enthusiasm and spirited bidding. Compare to a similar specimen, which realized a hammer of $42,500 in 2008.
Cynethryth has the distinction of being the only Anglo-Saxon queen to have her portrait grace a coinage. The wife of the Mercian king Offa, who ruled during the second half of the 8th century, this particular piece was struck in Canterbury circa 784-5 and clearly cites her name on the reverse along with her title in Latin (regin[a]). It is possible that this female issue was inspired from the contemporaneous Byzantine issues of empress Irene, though it may be more likely that they were designed merely as an homage to the earlier Roman Imperial coinage which honored the Augustae (wives and daughters elevated to royalty) of the Roman Empire. In any event, the issues of Cynethryth are extremely rare and desirable, especially in this exceptional state of preservation.
From the Penn Collection
HID02901242017
Estimate: 10000-20000 USD
Kings of Mercia. Cynethryth (Wife of Offa, 757-796) Penny (c. 784-5) XF45 NGC, Canterbury mint, Eoba as moneyer, Light coinage, portrait type, S-909, North-339. EʘBA, draped bust of Queen Cynethryth right; trefoils and pellets in and around legend / + CYNEδRYδ REGIN, macron over Mercian M; all within pelleted circular border; pellet and trefoil in legend. Extremely rare and highly attractive, this charmingly toned specimen features a strong strike and good metal for the issue. Some deposits are noted, but do not detract from its elegance. The only example certified by NGC, the present piece is assuredly one of the finest known and will undoubtedly generate a tremendous degree of enthusiasm and spirited bidding. Compare to a similar specimen, which realized a hammer of $42,500 in 2008.
Cynethryth has the distinction of being the only Anglo-Saxon queen to have her portrait grace a coinage. The wife of the Mercian king Offa, who ruled during the second half of the 8th century, this particular piece was struck in Canterbury circa 784-5 and clearly cites her name on the reverse along with her title in Latin (regin[a]). It is possible that this female issue was inspired from the contemporaneous Byzantine issues of empress Irene, though it may be more likely that they were designed merely as an homage to the earlier Roman Imperial coinage which honored the Augustae (wives and daughters elevated to royalty) of the Roman Empire. In any event, the issues of Cynethryth are extremely rare and desirable, especially in this exceptional state of preservation.
From the Penn Collection
HID02901242017
Estimate: 10000-20000 USD