Description
Æthelred II ‘the Unready’ of the House of Wessex, Anglo-Saxon King of the English 978-1013/1014-1016 AD, Silver Penny (1.37g, 20mm), First Hand Type, Lincoln mint 979-985 AD, Moneyer Færthen. Obverse: Diademed and draped bust of King Æthelred II facing to the right, inner lined border and legend beginning with initial mark cross pattée surrounds, “-EÐELRED REX ΛNG” (‘NG’ of ANG ligate). Reverse: Hand of Providence issuing from clouds of two lines, upper line ridged, plain above, barred “Λ” and “ω” to field each side, inner beaded border and legend beginning with initial mark cross pattée surrounds, “FER·DEN M-O LINCO”. North-766. Very minor doubling and struck with somewhat crude dies, interestingly with a ridged upper cloud line, lightly toned and in great preservation, far better viewed in hand, basically as struck, Extremely Fine and a moderately scarce mint.