ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Mercia. Cynethryth. Wife of Offa, 757-796. AR Penny (16mm, 1.08 g, 12h). Light coinage, portrait type. Canterbury mint; Eoba, moneyer. Struck 784/5. Good VF.

CNG Feature Auction 132
Lot: 1043. Estimated: $ 7 500

British, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 10 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Mercia. Cynethryth. Wife of Offa, 757-796. AR Penny (16mm, 1.08 g, 12h). Light coinage, portrait type. Canterbury mint; Eoba, moneyer. Struck 784/5. Draped bust right; ·: ·: E·◊·:B·A· around / + CУNE∂RУ·ð ·: REGI(barred N) around barred Mercian m; pellets around; all in pelleted circle. Chick 143i (same obv. die); SCBI 67 (BM), 658 (same obv.); North 339; SCBC 909. Find patina, some horn silver, porosity. Good VF. Very rare, the only portrait of an Anglo-Saxon queen.

Ex Dix Noonan Webb 192 (2 June 2021), lot 14.

Cynethryth, the wife of King Offa of Mercia, was the first and only Anglo-Saxon queen to have her name and image placed on coins. While it has been suggested that these coins were inspired by the appearance of the empress Irene on Byzantine issues, the profile portrait harkens back to coinage of Roman augustae. Many details of Cynethryth’s life, such as the date of her marriage, are unknown. She appears to have been active in political affairs until Offa’s death. After her husband’s passing, she became abbess of the monastery of Cookham, where she remained until her death sometime after 798. Cynethryth appears in the hagiography of St. Aethelbert, where she is portrayed as a jealous villain who incites Offa to kill the saint.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session Four – Lot 889-1124 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 19 May 2026 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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