IR1505 - Hiberno-Norse Kings of Dublin, Phase III (c.1035-c.1060), Penny, 0.92g., "Long Cross and Hand Coinage", stylized head ultimately derived from the Long Cross type of Aethelred II left, pellet in annulet on neck, blundered legend,  rev., voided long cross, each arm terminating with three curves, a hand and pellet in the 1st and 4th quarters,  blundered legend (S.6132; BNJ 1976, Brand #B50), practically as struck, spectacular iridescent toning, a superb hoard coin with an impressive provenance and pedigree, only coin of this sub-type in hoard. $1995  SOLD

 

Provenance:

Ex 'Brand Parcel', inventory of A.H. Baldwin Ltd, London.

Ex Virgil Brand (died 1926) Collection, Chicago, IL.

Ex Dunbrody Hoard, Co. Wexford, Ireland, 1836.

The Virgil Brand Parcel of Hiberno-Norse Pennies

The 'Brand Parcel' was the name given to a group of fifty-two Hiberno-Norse pennies that were part of the famous collection formed by the Chicago brewer, Virgil Brand and that were purchased by A. H. Baldwin in the 1970's. The multi-millionaire Brand was a very active collector from 1890 until his death in 1926, who was known to buy large parcels of coins in order to acquire a single specimen, with Spink and Son often acting as his agent in London. This parcel of one Phase I, one Phase II, forty-eight Phase III and two Phase VI coins is discussed by Blackburn and Seaby¹ , who conclude that the Phase III portion came from a single medieval hoard, with the Dunbrody Hoard being the most likely source. References in the descriptions are to the BNJ article which list the individual Brand coins in detail.

 

The Dunbrody Hoard

The Dunbrody Hoard^2, Co. Wexford, 1836 consisted of about 1400 coins predominately Hiberno-Norse Phase III pennies with a few late examples of Phase II. In addition there were about 200 late Anglo-Saxon pennies from Cnut to Edward the Confessor, the majority being of the latter and terminating with the Small Flan issue. The hoard would therefore appear to have a terminus post quem of c.1050. based on the Anglo-Saxon element. Such absolute dating evidence is rare amongst Hiberno-Norse finds, giving added importance to the hoard as a benchmark in the dating of the series. 

¹ M. Blackburn  and W. A. Seaby, "The 'Francis' and 'Brand' Parcels of Hiberno-Norse Coins", BNJ 1976, pp 29-39.

² Thompson Inventory #141. R. H. M. Dolley, "SCBI - Hiberno-Norse Coins in the British Museum", 1966. pp 67-68.