First Saxon penny

[Rocketstu]

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.

[Easylife]

Nice one, it needs straightening.

[Fusion]

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]

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.

Nice one!!! I'm yet to find one its numero uno on my list at the mo...!

[Mancave-man]

Great find, well done, even if it is a bit mullered

[fred]

Very nice find!

[TheAndyA]

A lovely find, I'd be very pleased to have discovered that little gem.

[Oxgirl36]

I’d be delighted with that - congratulations

[Koala]

lovely coin

I would be tempted to leave it as it is. After all its part of its history.

[dig-dog]

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

[Wuntbedruv]

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.

[Bradrick]

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.

[Rocketstu]

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.

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!

[Fusion]

" 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.

[Allectus]

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

[Ollie K]

Great find, I'd love to find a Saxon coin.

[sweepstick47]

Well done, that puts a tick in my box too Regards ss47

[Kritika]

Lovely Coin

[Tomo]

Nicely found, saxons are always a welcome change