NORTHUMBRIA

the kingdom of Northumbria
Archiepiscopal and Regal Issues
Northumbria had been from the early seventh century a major political and cultural force within the Anglo-Saxon heptarchy. Its kings had been Bretwaldas' or paramount kings amongst their English and British neighbors and its scholars and religious leaders were amongst the most respected in all of Christendom. However, by the ninth century Northumbria was in terminal decline and after periods of civil war quickly fell victim to the Danish Viking invaders that overran the the kingdom in A.D. 867. A curious feature of the late Northumbrian kingdom was its coinage of copper stycas or debased Sceats. Northumbria's archaic base metal coinage was unique in northern Europe where broad flan silver pennies had been in use in the southern England and in the Carolingian Empire since the late eighth century.
Click on image to enlarge

H4354 – The Kingdom of Northumbria, Eanred (810-840), Base Silver Sceatta, 1.15g., moneyer Monne, +EANRED REX , around a cross, rev., +MONNE, around a cross, (N.186; S.860), good very fine. $225
The Kingdom of Northumbria, Civil War (c.843/44-c.855) Irregular or Derivative Issues
These blundered issues or derivative issues appear to have been produced (perhaps at a mint or mints under quasi-official authority) during the endemic periods of civil war that came to characterize the last twenty five years of the Kingdom of Northumbria. See Pirie, E. J. E., 1996, "Coins of the Kingdom of Northumbria c.700-867."
Click on image to enlarge.

H4456 – The Kingdom of Northumbria, Civil War (c.843/44-c.855) Irregular or Derivative Issues, Copper Styca, 0.90g., partly or wholly blundered legends (cf North Volume 1, p.72; S.872), very fine. $95 SOLD