Early Medieval English Coins from the Collection of William MacKay (Part 1)

Kings of Mercia, Burgred, Penny, Phase III [H10/A], struck by the moneyer Guthhere, draped and diademed bust right, +bvrgred rex around starting beind the king’s head, rev. mon / +gvðhere / eta, the upper and lower lines housed within closed lunettes, pellets 3/3/3/6, 1.24/12h (MacKay Addenda H10, this coin; N 423; S 942A). A little peripheral porosity, otherwise good very fine; an attractive coin with an excellent pedigree £900-£1,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Early Medieval English Coins from the Collection of William MacKay.

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Collection

Found as part of the Westminster Bridge Hoard 1895; Lord Grantley Collection, Part 3, Glendining Auction, 22 March 2024, lot 871b [bt from Vienweg 1895]; Baldwin Winter List 2015 (AS011)

The Westminster Bridge Hoard (which is quite distinct from the larger Waterloo Bridge Hoard of 1884) is very poorly recorded. It appears to have comprised about ten coins, of which some seven are pennies of Burgred. Our knowledge of the hoard is derived entirely from the tickets in the hand of Lord Grantley which accompanied the coins in his sale, such as that sold alongside the present coin. The hoard can be dated approximately to c. 872/3, which coincides with the arrival of the Viking Great Army in London.