H2006 - Edward "the Martyr"
(975-978), Silver Penny, Sole type – Reform Small Cross type,
1.45g., York - Ælfstan, draped diademed bust left, +EADPEARD REX AI,
rev., cross pattée, +ELFSTAN M-O EFR, (N.763; S.1142; EMC 2007.0134
this coin), a field find, full round coin, no chips or cracks, good fine, the rarest of the late Anglo-Saxon monarchs.
$1995 SOLD
-
Provenance:
- Found with the aid of a metal detector at
Pocklington, Yorkshire, East Riding, England (SE 8049)
Coin Register 2008
Early Medieval Corpus 2007.0134
Edward the eldest surviving son of Eadgar and his first wife, Aethelflaed
was crowned king on his father's death at the age of sixteen. His
candidature was supported by Dunstan the influential Archbishop of
Canterbury; it was opposed by Eadgar's second wife, Queen Aelfthryth and her
followers who supported Edward’s younger half-brother, Aethelred II.
On
March 18,
978, Edward was murdered at
Corfe Castle, Dorset by
Aelfthryth’s followers.
Whilst Aethelred was only ten years old at the time of the murder and
therefore not directly implicated in the murder, his succession was tainted
with the double crime of fratricide and regicide and was to ultimately end
in the loss of the kingdom to Danish invaders. Canonized and awarded the
tile of “Martyr”, Edward is recognized as a saint in the
Eastern Orthodox,
Roman Catholic, and
Anglican traditions.
