Superb and Rare Watchet Penny

431195.

Sold For $3450

ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Æthelred II. 978-1016. AR Penny (19mm, 1.54 g, 12h). Long Cross type (BMC IVa, Hild. D). Wecedport (Watchet) mint; Hunwine, moneyer. Struck circa 997-1003. + ÆÐELRÆD REX A(NG), draped bust left; pellet behind neck / + HVN EPI(NE) M’Θ P ECED, voided long cross with pellet in center and triple crescent ends. Blackburn, Watchet 8 (dies B/c); SCBI 7 (Copenhagen), 1274; BMC 338 var. (obv. legend); North 774; SCBC 1151. EF, lustrous. Very rare.

The weight recorded by Blackburn for his example 8a, from the private Somnar Collection in Scandinavia, is 23.6 grains, extremely close to that of the present example, suggesting that they could perhaps be the same coin.