Summary

Silver coin; Denomination: Penny
Canterbury Mint (possible)
King Berhtwulf (840 - 852)
Moneyer: Brid; Bust A Group I

Berhtwulf succeeded Wiglaf as King of Mercia in AD 840, one year after Aethelwulf became King of Wessex. A friendship between the two Kings was possibly due in the main to an increase in Danish raiding in both kingdoms. As an example of the intensity of such raids, the Anglo Saxon Chronicle records that in the year 851 "350 ships came into the mouth of the Thames and stormed Canterbury and London and put to flight Brihtwulf, king of the Mercians, with his army".

The nature of Berhtwulf's claim to the throne of Kent is unknown but he appears to have gained widespread support, including that of the archbishop of Canterbury, Ceolnoth. His death may have been a result of this Viking raid. He was succeeded by Burgred in 852.

Obverse Description

A diademed bust of Coenwulf facing right, the bust extends to the edge of the coin; around, BERHTVLF REX.

Reverse Description

Within circle a cross crosslet; around, +BRID MONETA

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Spink & Son Ltd., 15 Mar 1976

  • Acknowledgement

    Purchased, Felton Bequest, 1932

  • Date Issued

    circa 850 AD

  • Issued By

    King Berhtwulf, Mercia, Ancient Britain, circa 850 AD

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Anglo Saxon

  • Material

    Silver

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Coins, Great britain - mercia, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Overall Dimensions

    21 mm (Outside Diameter), 0.881 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    North 406. Anglo Saxon Chronicle. Blackburn, M.A.S & Dumville, D.N., Kings, Currencies and Alliances, history and Coinages of Southern England in the Ninth Century, 1998, ISBN 0 85115 598 7.
    [Book] North, J. J. 1963. English Hammered Coinage., p.65 no.406 Pages
    [Book] Skingley, Philip. 2007. Coins of England and the United Kingdom., p.109, no.935 Pages