First Saxon penny
-
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 9:40 pm
- Location: Isle of Wight
- Has thanked: 56 times
- Been thanked: 38 times
- Contact:
First Saxon penny
A first for me recently. A Saxon silver penny (non portrait type) of Ecgberht King of Wessex, dating to c. 828-839.
Although bent almost in half and with a few cracks, there's still a good deal of detail including the whole inscription on the obverse: +ECGBEORHT REX and mint on the reverse:+BEORNEH[A]RT, surrounding a cross within a circle.
The coin was found around 4" down in freshly rolled soil using the Equinox 600.
Although bent almost in half and with a few cracks, there's still a good deal of detail including the whole inscription on the obverse: +ECGBEORHT REX and mint on the reverse:+BEORNEH[A]RT, surrounding a cross within a circle.
The coin was found around 4" down in freshly rolled soil using the Equinox 600.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Minelab Equinox 600
11 Hammered so far 2019
1 Saxon Penny
11 Hammered so far 2019
1 Saxon Penny
- Easylife
- Posts: 5713
- Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2017 9:23 pm
- Has thanked: 1611 times
- Been thanked: 3088 times
Re: First Saxon penny
Nice one, it needs straightening. 

Nox 800, 15" coil & Garrett carrot.
White's TDI SL
White's TDI SL
-
- Posts: 4834
- Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2010 11:47 am
- Location: Herts
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 501 times
Re: First Saxon penny
Nice find, and apart from the terrible cracks and fold, it is in good shape. But it would take some serious confidence in your straightening skills to try and sort that one out. I've done quite a few of them, successfully, but if that was my find, I'd be very apprehensive about tackling it. The older they are, the more brittle they seem to get, so your annealing has to be first class.
- HolzHammer
- Posts: 1124
- Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2018 5:18 pm
- Location: Hants
- Has thanked: 1714 times
- Been thanked: 661 times
- Contact:
Re: First Saxon penny
Nice one!!! I'm yet to find one its numero uno on my list at the mo...!Rocketstu wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2019 12:54 pmA first for me recently. A Saxon silver penny (non portrait type) of Ecgberht King of Wessex, dating to c. 828-839.
Although bent almost in half and with a few cracks, there's still a good deal of detail including the whole inscription on the obverse: +ECGBEORHT REX and mint on the reverse:+BEORNEH[A]RT, surrounding a cross within a circle.
The coin was found around 4" down in freshly rolled soil using the Equinox 600.
- Mancave-man
- Posts: 1088
- Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2017 1:40 pm
- Has thanked: 671 times
- Been thanked: 603 times
- fred
- Posts: 10703
- Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2014 6:15 pm
- Location: Kent
- Has thanked: 2522 times
- Been thanked: 6382 times
- TheAndyA
- Posts: 516
- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2018 8:01 pm
- Has thanked: 877 times
- Been thanked: 294 times
- Contact:
- Oxgirl36
- Moderator
- Posts: 11519
- Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2016 6:54 pm
- Location: A Lancastrian living in sunny Oxfordshire
- Has thanked: 4659 times
- Been thanked: 5326 times
Re: First Saxon penny
I’d be delighted with that - congratulations 

Carpe vinum
XP Deus
I use the HOT programme on 17khz, reactivity at 2.5 on v5.21 with the X35 11” coil
Hammered silver 2019 - 23
XP Deus

Hammered silver 2019 - 23

-
- Posts: 4912
- Joined: Thu Sep 12, 2013 2:47 pm
- Location: Cheshire
- Has thanked: 427 times
- Been thanked: 1515 times
Re: First Saxon penny
lovely coin
I would be tempted to leave it as it is. After all its part of its history.
I would be tempted to leave it as it is. After all its part of its history.
- dig-dog
- Posts: 978
- Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2013 2:24 pm
- Location: Kent
- Has thanked: 342 times
- Been thanked: 367 times
Re: First Saxon penny
Great find, great photo’s.
I’d be tempted to leave it as is. Saxon pennies tend to be very brittle, so unless you really know your onions, it’ll probably break.
DD
I’d be tempted to leave it as is. Saxon pennies tend to be very brittle, so unless you really know your onions, it’ll probably break.
DD

E-trac 13" ultimate coil.
Full XP Deus 11" coil / hf elliptical coil
Sniper spade
Full XP Deus 11" coil / hf elliptical coil
Sniper spade
- Wuntbedruv
- Posts: 161
- Joined: Fri Mar 01, 2019 3:00 pm
- Location: West Sussex
- Has thanked: 71 times
- Been thanked: 213 times
Re: First Saxon penny
If you intend to straighten it, Barry Sherlock is the man. Have a google.
I'm ambivalent about coin straightening, though I always would advise that if people intend to record their finds they do it BEFORE they modify them themselves.
I'm ambivalent about coin straightening, though I always would advise that if people intend to record their finds they do it BEFORE they modify them themselves.
God gives all men all earth to love, but since man’s heart is small,
Ordains for each one spot shall prove beloved over all.
Each to his choice, and I rejoice, the lot has fallen to me
In a fair ground—in a fair ground—Yea, Sussex by the sea!
Ordains for each one spot shall prove beloved over all.
Each to his choice, and I rejoice, the lot has fallen to me
In a fair ground—in a fair ground—Yea, Sussex by the sea!
- Bradrick
- Posts: 2601
- Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2018 5:07 pm
- Has thanked: 2597 times
- Been thanked: 1292 times
Re: First Saxon penny
Well done stu. Saxon/Viking are definitely top of the tree for me. It is very clear and well-defined and I would also be tempted to leave it as it is... call me fainthearted, but given those cracks and splits I wouldn't even attempt it. After all, the history you have in your hand remains the same.
Equinox 800
Garrett Ace 400i
C-Scope 1220b
“My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened.”
Garrett Ace 400i
C-Scope 1220b
“My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened.”
-
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 9:40 pm
- Location: Isle of Wight
- Has thanked: 56 times
- Been thanked: 38 times
- Contact:
Re: First Saxon penny
I was tempted to straighten but I do tend to agree with leaving it as it is. As it's a rare find I'd be silly to try and do a straighten job with little to no experience of doing so!SuperRed wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2019 7:04 pmWell done stu. Saxon/Viking are definitely top of the tree for me. It is very clear and well-defined and I would also be tempted to leave it as it is... call me fainthearted, but given those cracks and splits I wouldn't even attempt it. After all, the history you have in your hand remains the same.
Minelab Equinox 600
11 Hammered so far 2019
1 Saxon Penny
11 Hammered so far 2019
1 Saxon Penny
-
- Posts: 4834
- Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2010 11:47 am
- Location: Herts
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 501 times
Re: First Saxon penny
" As it's a rare find I'd be silly to try and do a straighten job with little to no experience of doing so!"
A good decision, you can always straighten it at some future date, when you do have plenty of experience. I recommend keeping any thin sheet brass/bronze you find, and using that as a first test item. Then when you've got a feel for it, try a 'low grade' hammered silver coin. The method is the same, you just need a higher annealing temperature for the brass - glowing red, rather than dull red for silver.
A good decision, you can always straighten it at some future date, when you do have plenty of experience. I recommend keeping any thin sheet brass/bronze you find, and using that as a first test item. Then when you've got a feel for it, try a 'low grade' hammered silver coin. The method is the same, you just need a higher annealing temperature for the brass - glowing red, rather than dull red for silver.
- Allectus
- Posts: 28010
- Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:37 am
- Location: Essexshire ;-)
- Has thanked: 1118 times
- Been thanked: 5747 times
Re: First Saxon penny
Well done finding but, what a shame. Brittle as you like by the look of it. Personally, I'd straighten as best & if it does fragment, glue the bits back together....done job!
A

A

- sweepstick47
- Moderator
- Posts: 10634
- Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2011 8:21 pm
- Location: North Lincolnshire
- Has thanked: 2105 times
- Been thanked: 2824 times
Re: First Saxon penny
Well done, that puts a tick in my box too
Regards ss47

A disservice is no service at all.