Early Medieval English Coins from the Collection of William MacKay

Kings of Mercia, Burgred, Penny, Phase IIA [H5/C], struck by the moneyer Wine, draped and diademed bust right, +bvrgred rex m around, starting behind the bust, rev. mon / +vvine / eta divided by two hooked lines, crescents with pellet terminals above and below, 1.38g/6h (MacKay Burgred H5.8, this coin; N 425; S 940B). Small perforation at centre, otherwise nearly extremely fine with residual die striation marks; very rare £600-£800

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

Glendining Auction, 17 June 1936, Lot 419 (part); R.C. Lockett Collection, Part III, 4 November 1958, lot 2669c; Morton & Eden Auction 30, 29 November 2007, lot 131; M. Rasmussen FPL 19, 2010 (5)

MacKay’s class H5 is characterised by a somewhat coarse bust, decorated at the base of the tunic with five pellets. The busts on these coins owes a debt to the near contemporary Floreate Cross coinage struck under Æthelberht at Canterbury, seen most clearly in the treatment of the hair, eye, diadem and drapery.