Coins of the Early Anglo-Saxon Period

Here are two AE Styca coins of Æthelred II, king of Northumbria. He should not be confused with the later and more infamous Æthelred II of Wessex, also known as Æthelred Unraed.

The coins were minted in York between 840 & 860 AD. The obverse shows the king's name around a central cross, while the reverse shows the name of the moneyer who minted the coin. The first example reverse shows +MONNE (1st N is reversed) around a central rosette, while the second shows +WULFSIC (Wulfsige) in retrograde around a central cross. (Spink 865)

This was a turbulent period in history. He had two reigns, and was eventually assassinated. The Vikings were heavily raiding the Kingdom of Northumbria during this period. Coins of this period had degraded from the silver Sceatta issues of the previous period to the mostly copper Styca which originated with Æthelred's father Eanred. These coins are reasonably common. Since they can be collected by a number of different rulers and moneyers, they make for interesting study at a fairly affordable price.