History Coins

Aethelred II (The Unready)

Aethelred (968?-1016) was the younger son of Eadgar and Aelfthryth. He became King in 978 following the murder of his half-brother, King Edward II. Aethelred was a inadequate ruler who failed to stop the Danes from overrunning England. He was known as "The Unready", from UNREDE, meaning 'no counsel' or 'without good advice' - which is ironic with his name meaning 'noble counsel'.

Aethelred's efforts to buy peace only made the invaders more violent, but when they did begin to settle, Aethelred provoked further invasions by launching a massacre on Danish settlers in 1002. Although overthrown by the Danish king Sweyn I in 1013, Aethelred, who had fled to Normandy, was invited back to the throne in 1014 by his advisors if he agreed to satisfy their grievances. He was then succeeded by his son Edmund II Ironside in 1016. Despite failures of Aethelred's reign, evidence from his charters and coinage suggests that his government was more effective than was once believed.

*NEW* Aethelred II, CRVX, Lincoln, Elfsige, 978-1016

Aethelred II, First Hand Type Penny, London, Leofric, 979-985, O

Obverse: Bare-headed bust of Aethelred II, left, sceptre in front with trefoil tip, +ÆÐELRED REX ANGLOX

Aethelred II, First Hand Type Penny, London, Leofric, 979-985, R

Reverse: Voided short cross with CRVX in angles, +ELFSIGE M-O LINC

Size: 19.5mm, 1.22g

Grade: VF+, lovely portrait, toned, very slightly wavy flan

Ref: N 770; S1148

Prov: Ex Hosker Haynes, previously Mike Vosper

£560 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1124

*NEW* Aethelred II, First Hand Type Penny, London, Leofric, 979-985

Obverse: Diademed bust of Aethelred II, right, ÆÐELRED REX ANGLOX

Reverse: Hand of Providence issuing from the clouds, at sides A W, LEOFRIC M'O LVND

Size: 20.5mm, 1.41g

Grade: VF, minor die breaks on reverse

Ref: N 766; S 1144

Prov: Ex. Noonans Mayfair

£490 (P&P FREE to all locations) #161

Aethelred II, First Hand Type Penny, Winchester, Eadsige, 979-985

Obverse: Diademed bust of Aethelred II, right, +ÆÐELRED REX ANGLOX

Aethelred II, First Hand Type Penny, Winchester, Eadsige, 979-985, R

Reverse: Hand of Providence issuing from the clouds, at sides A W, +EADSIGE MōO PINTONI

Size: 20mm, 1.28g

Grade: VF, areas of weakness

Ref: N 766; S 1144

£400 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1711

Aethelred II, CRVX Type Penny, London, Eadred, 991-997

Aethelred II, Crux Type Penny, London, Eadred, 991-997, O

Obverse: Bare-headed bust of Aethelred II, left, with sceptre, +ÆÐELRÆD REX ANGLOX

Aethelred II, Crux Type Penny, London, Eadred, 991-997, R

Reverse: Voided short cross with CRVX in angles, +ÆÐERED M-OLVND

Size: 21mm, 1.37g

Grade: VF, areas of weakness

Ref: N 770; S 1148

£440 (P&P FREE to all locations)

Aethelred II, Crux Type Penny, Lincoln, Wulf, Plugged, 991-997

Aethelred II, Crux Type Penny, Lincoln, Wulf, 991-997, O

Obverse: Bare-headed bust of Aethelred II, left, with sceptre, +ÆÐELRÆD REX ANGLORX (ANGLORX is written with a separate R and X)

Aethelred II, Crux Type Penny, Lincoln, Wulf, 991-997, R

Reverse: Voided short cross with CRVX in angles, +VLF M-O LINCOL

Size: 20mm, 1.41g

Grade: VF+, neat flan, peck marks but a silver plug in the 'O'

Ref: N 770; S 1148

£460 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1708

Aethelred II, Long Cross Type Penny, London, Wulfwine, 997-1003

Obverse: Bare-headed bust of Aethelred II, left, pellet behind head, +ÆÐELRÆD REX ANGLORX

Aethelred II, Long Cross Type Penny, London, Wulfwine, 997-1003, R

Reverse: Voided long cross, each limb terminating in three crescents, +PVLFPINE M'O LVND

Size: 20mm, 2.08g

Grade: VF, multiple peck marks

Ref: N 774; S 1151

£380 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1709

Aethelred II, Long Cross Type Penny, Exeter, Goda, 997-1003

Obverse: Bare-headed bust of Aethelred II, left, pellet behind head, +ÆÐELRÆD REX ANGLO

Aethelred II, Long Cross Type Penny, Exeter, Goda, 997-1003, R

Reverse: Voided long cross, each limb terminating in three crescents, +GΘDMΩΘ EΛXEC

Size: 20mm, 1.71g

Grade: VF

Ref: N 774; S 1151

Prov: Ex. CNG sale, good pedigree

£520 (P&P FREE to all locations) #331

Aethelred II, Long Cross Type Penny, London, Brihtlaf, 997-1003

Obverse: Bare-headed bust of Aethelred II, left, pellet behind head, +ÆÐELRÆD REX ANGLO

Aethelred II, Long Cross Type Penny, London, Brihtlaf, 997-1003, R

Reverse: Voided long cross, each limb terminating in three crescents, +BRIHTLΛF M'O LVND

Size: 20mm, 1.73g

Grade: EF, lovely tone

Ref: N 774; S 1151

Prov: Ex. Roma Numismatics

£650 (P&P FREE to all locations)

Aethelred II, Long Cross Type Penny, London, Eadwold, 997-1003

Obverse: Bare-headed bust of Aethelred II, left, pellet behind head, +ÆÐELRÆD REX ANGLO

Aethelred II, Long Cross Type Penny, London, Eadwold, 997-1003, R

Reverse: Voided long cross, each limb terminating in three crescents, +EΛDPΘLD M'Θ LVND

Size: 20mm, 1.38g

Grade: GF, light porosity

Ref: N 774; S 1151

Prov: Ex. Lockdales

£460 (P&P FREE to all locations) #555

Aethelred II, Helmet Type Penny, Leicester, Thurulf, 1003-1009

Obverse: Bust of Aethelred II, left, in armour and radiate helmet, +ÆÐELRÆD REX ANGLO

Aethelred II, Helmet Type Penny, Leicester, Thurulf, 1003-1009, R

Reverse: Voided long cross, each limb terminating in three crescents, over square with trefoil at each point, +ÐVRVLF M-O LEHRΛ

Size: 19mm, 1.39g

Grade: GF

Ref: N 775; S 1152

£580 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1283

Aethelred II, Helmet Type Penny, Thetford, Osulf, 1003-1009

Obverse: Bust of Aethelred II, left, in armour and radiate helmet, +ÆÐELRÆD REX ANGLO

Aethelred II, Helmet Type Penny, Thetford, Osulf, 1003-1009, R

Reverse: Voided long cross, each limb terminating in three crescents, over square with trefoil at each point, +OS VLFM :O:Ð EOD

Size: 18.5mm, 0.96g

Grade: GF, cracked

Ref: N 775; S 1152

£350 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1716

Aethelred II, Last Small Cross Type Penny, Norwich, Thurstan, 1009-1017

Aethelred II, Last Small Cross Type Penny, 4 Cross Variety, Colchester, Elfwine, 1009-1017, RARE, O

Obverse: Diademed bust of Aethelred II, left, +ÆÐELRÆD REX ANGL, bust type 7

Aethelred II, Last Small Cross Type Penny, 4 Cross Variety, Colchester, Elfwine, 1009-1017, RARE, R

Reverse: Small cross pattée, +ÐORZTANO NORÐP

Size: 19mm, 1.05g

Grade: VF+, good bold portrait, slightly wrinkled flan, few peck marks

Ref: N 777; S 1154

£520 (P&P FREE to all locations)

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