Well Struck Æthelred I Penny
ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Wessex. Æthelred I. 865/6-871. AR Penny (20mm, 1.09 g, 10h). Lunettes type. Canterbury mint; Herebeald, moneyer. Struck circa 867-871. + ΛEÐELRED REX, diademed and draped bust right / + HEREBEΛ across central field, LDMO NETA in lunettes above and below. Cf. Lyons & MacKay Ae2.75-76 (for moneyer); cf. SCBI 67 (BM), 1341 (for moneyer); North 622; SCBC 1055. Dark toning. Near EF. Well struck. Extremely rare, only two other coins from this moneyer listed by Lyons & MacKay.
Aethelred I (865/6-871), King of Wessex, was the third son of Aethelwulf and successor to his older brother Aethelberht. He fought heroically against the Danish Great Army in 870-871. Despite his victory over the Danes at Reading, he suffered two subsequent defeats and died, leaving to his brother Alfred the crown and the negotiations necessary to buy off the Viking invaders with the payment of Danegeld.
