British and World Coins

Kings of Mercia, Berhtwulf (840-52), Penny, an irregular issue struck from engraved dies, berhtvlf rc, small diademed head right breaking inner circle, rev. [–]hhvvllf[–], crude cross moline with pellet in each angle, 0.96g (Naismith –; N –; cf. S 935). Irregular flan, of crude and barbarous style, fine and most unusual £600-£800

Found near King’s Lynn, 2023

The dies used to strike this coin cannot easily be associated with the mint of London on account of their crude style and blundered legends. Instead, there is a temptation to associate this penny with the disruption caused by the military actions of the Vikings throughout the middle decades of the ninth century. At first, these incursions were occasional and opportunistic (with London being sacked in 842 and 851); later, after the ‘Great Danish Army’ arrived in 866, the campaigning became continuous and the heathens proved a constant and relentless threat to the English kingdoms. The camp at Torksey used by the Vikings to over-winter from 872 to 873 appears to have been the site of coin production. Numismatic finds from Torksey include two lead trial strikings produced from imitative and blundered dies copying a Solidus of Louis the Pious and a silver Penny of Burgred respectively.