Early Medieval English Coins from the Collection of William MacKay

Eadred (946-955), Penny, Two Line type [HR 1], struck from North-Western dies by the moneyer Æthelweald, small cross, eadred rex around, rev. edel pald in two lines, three crosses between, rosette of pellets above and below, 1.39g/8h (cf. SCBI BM 592; CTCE 107; N 707; S 1118). Trace of double-striking on reverse, otherwise extremely fine, dark-toned with vivid neon blue highlights £1,200-£1,500

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

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S. Birchall (1761-1805) Collection, DNW Auction 191, 4 May 2021, lot 4

Samuel Birchall, one of five children of Caleb Birchall (1735-1805), of Rainford, Lancashire, and his wife Mary, née Stapleton (1739-1802), was born into a Quaker family in Horsehay, Shropshire, on 31 May 1761. in 1786 he moved to Leeds, where he joined his wife’s family firm, John & Joseph Jowitt, woolstaplers, in which Samuel had become a partner by June 1788.

Birchall formed valuable collections of British gold and silver coins, stuffed birds and beasts (these were sent to London for sale at the end of 1813), and mineralogy, maintaining extensive acquaintances with men of letters interested in similar pursuits in other parts of the country. Doubtless one of the sources for the coin collection was the dealer Henry Young (c. 1738-1811) of Ludgate street, London, a token issuer himself in 1794 who was followed in business by his much better-known son, Matthew Young (1770-1838), issuer of his own private token in 1798 and a collaborator with Birchall on his List, for which Henry Young was the retail outlet. Samuel took ill in March 1814 and died at the age of 53 after an attack of gout on 17 May 1814. He was interred on 22 May at the Friends Burial Ground, Camp lane court, Leeds.