Description

Anglo-Saxon Northumbria – Æthelred II AE Styca – First Reign, AD 841–843/4 – York Mint

A fascinating piece of Anglo-Saxon history, this genuine AE Styca of Æthelred II, King of Northumbria, dates from his first reign, AD 841–843/4.

Struck at the York Mint, this small copper-alloy coin was produced during one of the most turbulent periods of early medieval English history. Stycas were the everyday small-denomination coins of Northumbria and circulated in and around York more than 1,100 years ago.

This example is attributed to the moneyer Alghere, belonging to Phase II, Group B, making it an especially interesting coin for collectors of Anglo-Saxon and early medieval numismatics.

Historical Background

Æthelred II became King of Northumbria in the early 9th century during a period of considerable political instability. His first reign lasted only a few years before he was removed from power in AD 843/4.

The Northumbrian kingdom was centred around York, an important political, commercial and religious centre that was increasingly influenced by Scandinavian activity during this period.

The styca was a distinctive Northumbrian coin denomination. Unlike the larger silver pennies commonly associated with Anglo-Saxon England, stycas were generally produced in base metal and were used extensively for everyday transactions.

Today, surviving stycas provide collectors with a fascinating physical connection to the people who lived and traded in Northumbria during the Viking Age.

Coin Details

A Remarkable Piece of Early English History

Small though it is, this coin represents a fascinating period when Anglo-Saxon Northumbria and the Viking world were increasingly intertwined.

The York Mint was at the heart of Northumbrian economic life, and coins such as this would have passed through the hands of merchants, craftsmen, farmers and ordinary people living in the kingdom.

For collectors, an Æthelred II styca offers the opportunity to own an authentic coin from 9th-century England, long before the modern United Kingdom existed.

Condition

Please examine the photographs carefully for the exact condition, surfaces, patina and remaining detail. As with many surviving Anglo-Saxon stycas, the coin displays the characteristics expected of an approximately 1,180-year-old archaeological coin, including wear and surface marks.

A genuine Anglo-Saxon coin from the reign of Æthelred II and the York Mint – a remarkable survivor from Viking Age Northumbria.