Offa (757-796), Penny, Heavy coinage, Gp III, London, Ciolhard, +offa in centre, Mercian m above, rex below, rev. +ciol·hard [hard inverted] in two lines divided by line of pellets, enclosed by lunettes with fleurs in the junctions, 1.36g/12h (cf. Blunt 102; N 325; S 908). Very fine and well struck, very rare, the moneyer previously unknown for this variant (£1,000-1,200)

Provenance:
Found at Spilsby, Lincolnshire, April 2000.

Sold with detailed notation from Derek Chick, which confirms this as only the second known heavy issue penny of Ciolhard (the other, Blunt 87, originated in the Murchison collection, auctioned in 1866). See Colour Plate II