Kings of Wessex. ?lfred the Great (871-899) Penny ND, S-1066, North-637, MS63 NGC. 3rd Coinage (880-899). Two-Line Cross-pattee type, Mercian dies, moneyer Cudberht. A beautiful example of this scarce non-portrait penny. The flan is of good metal and essentially round in form. The legends are very clear. There is a strong inner circle on the obverse with a partial rim border; there are no cracks. The reverse shows some ancient fine scratches and a long scuff to the rim near 1 o'clock; the rim is partially in evidence; the color a lovely light silvery gray with some beautiful golden green iridescent toning. All in all, a choice example of this classic Anglo-Saxon issue. ?lfred entered London in great triumph in 886, at which time he had struck the famous Londonia portrait coins, which circulated alongside coins such as this charming, if simply designed, penny. Realized $6,462.50. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
Kings of Wessex. ?lfred the Great (871-899) Penny ND, S-1066, North-637, MS63 NGC. 3rd Coinage (880-899). Two-Line Cross-pattee type, Mercian dies, moneyer Cudberht. A beautiful example of this scarce non-portrait penny. The flan is of good metal and essentially round in form. The legends are very clear. There is a strong inner circle on the obverse with a partial rim border; there are no cracks. The reverse shows some ancient fine scratches and a long scuff to the rim near 1 o'clock; the rim is partially in evidence; the color a lovely light silvery gray with some beautiful golden green iridescent toning. All in all, a choice example of this classic Anglo-Saxon issue. ?lfred entered London in great triumph in 886, at which time he had struck the famous Londonia portrait coins, which circulated alongside coins such as this charming, if simply designed, penny. Realized $6,462.50. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
Kings of Wessex. ?lfred the Great (871-899) portrait "Monogram" Penny ND, London mint, struck ca. 880, S-1061, North-644 (rare), MS63 NGC. This famous issue has been exceptionally well preserved over the past 1134 years since it was minted. We see here an excellent portrait, with remarkable details across the bust and on the obverse legend; the reverse's Londonia monogram is bold in all parts. The rims are high and complete, no cracks exist, the metal is of good quality, and the surfaces are essentially without blemish. The coin is charming, as well, because of its medieval patina, a combination of bluish silvery gray with iridescent golden hues. Patches of black carbon-based deposits attest to the originality of the piece. The royal title is boldly engraved and struck, as ?LF REDREx, the final letter not fitting the space and thus placed beneath the "E" near the center of the king's shoulder. Among the finer examples known of this classic Anglo-Saxon penny, it was struck at ?lfred's mint in London, right on the line of ancient Watling Street which marked the boundary between ?lfred's native Wessex and his conquered lands in East Anglia. This long, hard victory was won by a determined king whose army had been decimated by Viking invaders since 870, when Wessex was first attacked. At the time, it was the only remaining kingdom independent of Viking control. ?thelred and his younger brother, ?lfred, had driven back the Danes in 871 at the battle of Ashdown. After ?thelred was killed in a subsequent battle, ?lfred became king, and he retreated to remote Somerset with what remained of his army to refit and plan his next move. The Viking king Guthrum seized control of almost all Anglo-Saxon territory early in 878, driving ?lfred out of Wessex. He had only his reduced forces of thegns and bodyguards at that time, but ?lfred's reputation led many warriors from surrounding counties to join him and, later in the same year, they attacked and defeated the Danish army at the battle of Edington. Knowing he could not defeat all the Vikings, he made peace in a treaty that partitioned England, giving ?lfred control of London. In effect, however, after May of 878, London was his by power of military force. One of the very few extant physical artifacts of this conquest is his famous Monogram Penny, portraying him as king, as we see so clearly here on this historic coin. Realized $52,875.00. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
Wurzburg. Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim Goldgulden 1774, KM408, Fr-3726, MS62 NGC. Obv. Bust right in clerical robes. Rev. Palm tree behind shield, with date 1774 below. The strike is bold, and the fields fully prooflike with no significant flaws. This is an attractive Mint State example of the New Year Goldgulden. Ex: ?Colonel? E.H.R. Green; Green Estate? Partnership of Eric P Newman / B.G. Johnson. Realized $2,467.50. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
Kings of Wessex. ?lfred the Great (871-899) portrait "Monogram" Penny ND, London mint, struck ca. 880, S-1061, North-644 (rare), MS63 NGC. This famous issue has been exceptionally well preserved over the past 1134 years since it was minted. We see here an excellent portrait, with remarkable details across the bust and on the obverse legend; the reverse's Londonia monogram is bold in all parts. The rims are high and complete, no cracks exist, the metal is of good quality, and the surfaces are essentially without blemish. The coin is charming, as well, because of its medieval patina, a combination of bluish silvery gray with iridescent golden hues. Patches of black carbon-based deposits attest to the originality of the piece. The royal title is boldly engraved and struck, as ?LF REDREx, the final letter not fitting the space and thus placed beneath the "E" near the center of the king's shoulder. Among the finer examples known of this classic Anglo-Saxon penny, it was struck at ?lfred's mint in London, right on the line of ancient Watling Street which marked the boundary between ?lfred's native Wessex and his conquered lands in East Anglia. This long, hard victory was won by a determined king whose army had been decimated by Viking invaders since 870, when Wessex was first attacked. At the time, it was the only remaining kingdom independent of Viking control. ?thelred and his younger brother, ?lfred, had driven back the Danes in 871 at the battle of Ashdown. After ?thelred was killed in a subsequent battle, ?lfred became king, and he retreated to remote Somerset with what remained of his army to refit and plan his next move. The Viking king Guthrum seized control of almost all Anglo-Saxon territory early in 878, driving ?lfred out of Wessex. He had only his reduced forces of thegns and bodyguards at that time, but ?lfred's reputation led many warriors from surrounding counties to join him and, later in the same year, they attacked and defeated the Danish army at the battle of Edington. Knowing he could not defeat all the Vikings, he made peace in a treaty that partitioned England, giving ?lfred control of London. In effect, however, after May of 878, London was his by power of military force. One of the very few extant physical artifacts of this conquest is his famous Monogram Penny, portraying him as king, as we see so clearly here on this historic coin. Realized $52,875.00. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
Wurzburg. Karl Philippg Goldgulden ND (1749), KM326, Fr-3720, Helm-678, MS63 Prooflike NGC. One-year type. An impressive roller-die emission with an evident natural curvature to the flan that accentuates the incredible reflectivity in the fields. Close inspection confirms a perfect strike as all central detail remains bold and the coarse dentils at the peripheries remain sharp. Soft tone at the edges is a pleasing addition. Very likely the finest example that one can ever hope to find. Ex: ?Colonel? E.H.R. Green; Green Estate? Partnership of Eric P Newman / B.G. Johnson. Realized $4,993.75. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
Wurzburg. Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim Goldgulden 1774, KM408, Fr-3726, MS62 NGC. Obv. Bust right in clerical robes. Rev. Palm tree behind shield, with date 1774 below. The strike is bold, and the fields fully prooflike with no significant flaws. This is an attractive Mint State example of the New Year Goldgulden. Ex: ?Colonel? E.H.R. Green; Green Estate? Partnership of Eric P Newman / B.G. Johnson. Realized $2,467.50. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
Wurzburg. Karl Philippg Goldgulden ND (1749), KM326, Fr-3720, Helm-678, MS63 Prooflike NGC. One-year type. An impressive roller-die emission with an evident natural curvature to the flan that accentuates the incredible reflectivity in the fields. Close inspection confirms a perfect strike as all central detail remains bold and the coarse dentils at the peripheries remain sharp. Soft tone at the edges is a pleasing addition. Very likely the finest example that one can ever hope to find. Ex: ?Colonel? E.H.R. Green; Green Estate? Partnership of Eric P Newman / B.G. Johnson. Realized $4,993.75. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
Wurzburg. Friedrich Karl von Schonborn gold Carolin (10 Gulden) 1736, Fr-3707, MS62 NGC. Obv. Bust right. Rev. Crowned and mantled monogram. Fully prooflike fields have superb details and surfaces free of notable flaws. Except for a small reverse flan flaw at 6 o'clock, an incredible example of this exceedingly rare issue. Wurzburg is another bishopric known for the witch trials of the 1600's. Ex: ?Colonel? E.H.R. Green; Green Estate? Partnership of Eric P Newman / B.G. Johnson. Realized $15,275.00. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
Wurzburg. Friedrich Karl von Schonborn gold Carolin (10 Gulden) 1736, Fr-3707, MS62 NGC. Obv. Bust right. Rev. Crowned and mantled monogram. Fully prooflike fields have superb details and surfaces free of notable flaws. Except for a small reverse flan flaw at 6 o'clock, an incredible example of this exceedingly rare issue. Wurzburg is another bishopric known for the witch trials of the 1600's. Ex: ?Colonel? E.H.R. Green; Green Estate? Partnership of Eric P Newman / B.G. Johnson. Realized $15,275.00. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.