Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3071 6-7 Jan 2019
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Great Britain
Kings of Wessex. Ælfred the Great (871-899) Penny ND AU55 NGC, London mint, S-1061, N-644. 1.52gm. London Monogram type. ÆLFR ED REX, diademed bust right, pellets above / Londonia monogram, cross pattée above, pellets below and in center. An extremely rare numismatic treasure, among the most iconic types of the hammered Penny series, famous for its dynamic 'Londonia' monogram consisting of the letters LONDI artfully merged on the reverse; and indeed, this coin represents arguably the most significant event in the history of London. The Roman city of Londinium was abandoned in the late 5th century, succeeded shortly afterwards by the Anglo-Saxon Lundenwic; this settlement encountered frequent Viking invasions and remained essentially a ruin. This all changed when, in 886, Alfred the Great reclaimed control of London from the Vikings and set about renewing its fortifications. The new settlement became the main population center known as Lundenburh, and survives today as the City of London.
The reverse design of the present offering beautifully represents Alfred's confidence and commitment to the restoration of London. Mintmarks are found on many hammered coins, indicating either when or where a coin was produced, but seldom is the entirety of the reverse dedicated to informing the viewer specifically which city produced it. Alfred clearly saw great potential in the city he chose to restore, and it is doubtful that any other historical artifact proves this to a greater extent than the Londonia Pennies struck at Alfred's mint on Watling Street. Very few examples of this important type survive today, 1,132 years after their production, and certainly not in the Almost Uncirculated grade the present specimen boasts. This valuable piece of English history has been produced to a high standard, some areas of weakness present but not disguising the crisp portrait of Alfred nor the reverse monogram. The planchet is of good metal, toned a gunmetal gray, darkening around the legends, lightning to hints of gold in the field. Of immense historic and numismatic significance, an essential coin to any dedicated, high-tier cabinet of British hammered silver.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 12000-15000 USD
Kings of Wessex. Ælfred the Great (871-899) Penny ND AU55 NGC, London mint, S-1061, N-644. 1.52gm. London Monogram type. ÆLFR ED REX, diademed bust right, pellets above / Londonia monogram, cross pattée above, pellets below and in center. An extremely rare numismatic treasure, among the most iconic types of the hammered Penny series, famous for its dynamic 'Londonia' monogram consisting of the letters LONDI artfully merged on the reverse; and indeed, this coin represents arguably the most significant event in the history of London. The Roman city of Londinium was abandoned in the late 5th century, succeeded shortly afterwards by the Anglo-Saxon Lundenwic; this settlement encountered frequent Viking invasions and remained essentially a ruin. This all changed when, in 886, Alfred the Great reclaimed control of London from the Vikings and set about renewing its fortifications. The new settlement became the main population center known as Lundenburh, and survives today as the City of London.
The reverse design of the present offering beautifully represents Alfred's confidence and commitment to the restoration of London. Mintmarks are found on many hammered coins, indicating either when or where a coin was produced, but seldom is the entirety of the reverse dedicated to informing the viewer specifically which city produced it. Alfred clearly saw great potential in the city he chose to restore, and it is doubtful that any other historical artifact proves this to a greater extent than the Londonia Pennies struck at Alfred's mint on Watling Street. Very few examples of this important type survive today, 1,132 years after their production, and certainly not in the Almost Uncirculated grade the present specimen boasts. This valuable piece of English history has been produced to a high standard, some areas of weakness present but not disguising the crisp portrait of Alfred nor the reverse monogram. The planchet is of good metal, toned a gunmetal gray, darkening around the legends, lightning to hints of gold in the field. Of immense historic and numismatic significance, an essential coin to any dedicated, high-tier cabinet of British hammered silver.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 12000-15000 USD