ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Æthelred II. 978-1016. AR Penny (20mm, 1.70 g, 9h). Crux type (BMC iiia, Hild. C). Exeter mint; Ælfnoth, moneyer. Struck circa 991-997. VF.

Keystone 16 – The David C. Bianchi II Collection
Lot: 61.
Closing Date: May 20 2026 10:00 ET

British – Anglo-Saxon & Norman, Silver

Estimate: $ 400

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ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Æthelred II. 978-1016. AR Penny (20mm, 1.70 g, 9h). Crux type (BMC iiia, Hild. C). Exeter mint; Ælfnoth, moneyer. Struck circa 991-997. Draped bust left; trefoil-tipped scepter to left / + ÆLFNOÐ M–O EΛXE, voided short cross; C–R–V–X in quarters. North 770; SCBC 1148. Toned, minor deposits. VF.

From the David C. Bianchi II Collection, purchased from Gebura & Co., November 1980.

Aethelred II, nicknamed the Unready, from unræd (poor counsel), failed to check renewed Viking attacks from 991 on and frequently bought off Vikings by the payment of Danegeld. Aethelred, however, provoked a war of conquest by King Svend Forkbeard of Denmark and his son Cnut the Great (Knud) by ordering the St. Brice’s Day Massacre of recent Danish settlers on November 13, 1002.

Closing Date and Time: 20 May 2026 at 10:20:00 ET.



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