The ‘Good Money’ Collection of Irish Hammered Coins

Hiberno-Scandinavian period, Phase I, c. 995-1020, Sihtric, Penny, ‘London’, Emirnie, in imitation of Long Cross coinage, with the title (?) Thymn Roex, draped bust left, half-pellet with four tiny pellets at nape of neck, dymnroæ+ mnegi, rev. emir niemioivnd, long voided cross, nothing in angles, 1.24g/1h (BNJ 29, p.287, 15; SCBI BM 30, same obv. die; cf. SCBI Copenhagen 22; cf. SCBI Ulster 27; Roth 26; S 6109; DF 8). A little crimped and peckmarked, otherwise very fine, toned, extremely rare £1,200-£1,500

Provenance: Bt Spink 1990s

The meaning of the obverse legend is still uncertain, with no Hiberno-Scandinavian leader named Thymn known to history. A suggestion that it relates to the Danish warrior-hero Tymme Sjællandsfar was disproved by Dolley (BNJ 29 p.275ff)