IR1507 -
Hiberno-Norse Kings of Dublin,
Phase VI (c.1095-c.1110), Penny, 1.14g., "Very Late and Degraded
Imitations of Long Cross Coins", stylized head ultimately derived from the
Long Cross type of Aethelred II left, crozier (bishops crook) in front,
blundered legends, rev., voided long cross, pellet and sceptre in
alternate angles (S.6187,BNJ
1976, Brand #B51),
tiny striking crack at 4 o'clock, good very fine, scarce, nice provenance.
$1295 SOLD
Provenance:
Ex 'Brand Parcel', inventory of A.H.
Baldwin Ltd, London.
Ex Virgil Brand (died 1926) Collection,
Chicago, IL.
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 authors of
the article concluded that this coin, the other Phase VI and Phase II
were not from the Dunbrody Hoard.
M. Blackburn and W. A.
Seaby, "The 'Francis' and 'Brand' Parcels of Hiberno-Norse Coins", BNJ
1976, pp 29-39.
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The crozier or bishops crook on the obverse is an overt
reference to the strength of the Christian faith amongst the mixed Irish and
Viking population of Dublin. Indeed it may even relate directly to the
authority under which the coinage was struck, i.e. an ecclesiastical one.
