England (991-997) penny S-1148
The first specimen was lot 1653 in Künker Auction 425 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €950 (about US$1,345 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"EUROPÄISCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · ENGLAND, AB 1707 GROSSBRITANNIEN, AB 1801 VEREINIGTES KÖNIGREICH Aethelred II, 978-1016. Penny, um 991-997, Winchester. CRVX type. Münzmeister LEOFPOLD (Leofwold). Brustbild l. mit Zepter, daran drei Kugeln//Doppelfadenkreuz mit C - R - V - X in den Winkeln. Sehr selten in dieser Erhaltung. Sehr attraktives Exemplar mit hübscher Patina, vorzüglich +. Exemplar der Salton Collection. (kingdom of England, Aethelred II, 978-1016, penny, circa 991-997, Winchester mint. Obverse: bust left with scepter topped with three pellets; reverse: double voided cross cantonned with "C - R - V - X". Very scarce in this quality, very attractive example with handsome patina, extremely fine or better.)"
The second specimen was lot 1654 in the same sale, where it sold for €240 (about US$340 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"EUROPÄISCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · ENGLAND, AB 1707 GROSSBRITANNIEN, Aethelred II, 978-1016. Penny, um 991-997, Norwich. CRVX type. Münzmeister EADMUND (Eadmund). Brustbild l. mit Zepter, daran drei Kugeln//Doppelfadenkreuz mit C - R - V - X in den Winkeln. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. (kingdom of England, Aethelred II, 978-1016, penny, circa 991-997, Norwich mint, CRVX type, moneyer Eadmund. Obverse: bust left with scepter topped with three pellets; reverse: double voided cross cantonned with "C - R - V - X". Very fine to extremely fine.)"
The reign of Aethelred II, nicknamed "the Unready", saw the use of several designs of the silver penny as the moneyers tried to stay ahead of the counterfeiters. This one is called the "CRVX type" because of the "C - R - V - X" on the reverse. As these were used to pay Danegeld, many have turned up in Viking hoards.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.76 g, silver, 21 mm diameter, the second specimen 1,51 g.
Catalog reference: North 770; Seaby 1148.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins, 1066 to Date, London: Coincraft, 1995.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 425: Gold coins from the Medieval and Modern Times, from the Mohr family collection, e.g. | Silver coins, e.g. highlights of medallic art | German coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.
Links: