ANGLO-SAXON, Pale Gold Phase. Circa 645-665/70. Pale AV Thrymsa – Shilling (12mm, 1.21 g, 12h). 'Two Emperors' type. Mint in Kent(?). Diademed and draped bust right; pseudo legend around / Two small busts facing, holding two orbs between them; above, Victory with wings enfolding the figures; three pellets to each side of Victory's head. Grierson, Coins of Medieval Europe 61; Sutherland 33 (unlisted dies); A&W Type V.xxvii; SCBI 63 (BM), 29; MEC 8 table 3, 30; North 20; SCBC 767. Toned, some weakness, bent flan. VF.
From the Richard A. Jourdan Collection of Medieval European Coins, purchased from Andy Singer.
Trade across the North Sea and the Channel and political ties with Merovingian France stimulated the birth of an Anglo-Saxon gold coinage in the second quarter of the seventh century. The design of this thrymsa is based on late Roman solidi of the fourth century which bore a reverse depicting two seated co-emperors with a figure of Victory above.