Diversity in Numismatics
Cayman Islands


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description: PENNY (978-1016) G.BRITAIN S-1144 AETHELRED II
Grade: NGC AU 55
Owner: RAM-VT
 
Set Category: Other (Diverse collecting in the style of Garrett while on a very limited budget)
Set Name: Diversity in Numismatics
Slot Name: Cayman Islands
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

England Aethelred II 978 – 1016 Silver Penny AU-55 S-1144 First hand type Census - NGC does provide census data on English coins from this time period :>( Obv. Diademed bust right, without scepter. Rev. Hand of providence between alpha & omega, issuing from cloud composed of parallel lines Æthelred the Unready, or Æthelred II (c. 968 – 23 April 1016), was king of England (978–1013 and 1014–1016). He was son of King Edgar and Queen Ælfthryth. Æthelred was only about 10 (no more than 13) when his half-brother Edward was murdered. Æthelred was not personally suspected of participation, but as the murder was committed at Corfe Castle by the attendants of Ælfthryth, it made it more difficult for the new king to rally the nation against the military raids by Danes, especially as the legend of St Edward the Martyr grew. Later, Æthelred ordered a massacre of Danish settlers in 1002 and also paid tribute, or Danegeld, to Danish leaders from 991 onwards. His reign was much troubled by Danish Viking raiders. In 1013, Æthelred fled to Normandy and was replaced by Sweyn, who was also king of Denmark. However, Æthelred returned as king after Sweyn died in 1014. "Unready" is a mistranslation of Old English unræd (meaning bad-counsel) – a twist on his name "Æthelred" (meaning noble-counsel). A better translation would be Redeless - without counsel (Rede). The instant I saw this coin offered for sale I wanted it. It was sold raw on eBay and it was obviously a high grade. Finding coins from before the 1200’s that grade UNC is possible but it will take you a lot of effort to find them. Another problem is that most coins from this time period have been cleaned/impaired. I love this coin because it is totally natural which is very important to me. I’ll take a perfectly natural AU-55 from 1000 AD to a coin with a very tiny bit more detail but not in a natural state of preservation. Simply I am proud to own this coin. My cost was $438.

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