Ancient, British and World Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

Offa (757-796), Kings of Mercia, Offa (757-96), Penny, Light Coinage, East Anglia, Œthelred, cross pattée on two steps, +OFFA+REX, reverse OEDELRED in angles of a cross-crosslet with lozenge centre containing an ornamented pellet, 1.12gm (cf. BNJ 1992, p.221, no.256; Blunt – [cf. 71, rev.]; N 279/1; S 906). Slightly crimped, otherwise very fine and with an attractive olive-green patina, extremely rare and believed the finest of the four extant specimens (£750-1000)

Vendor states: “apparently found near Guildford some years ago.” Shown at the British Museum in September 1997; die-axis 0°.
This type was unknown prior to 1988, when a specimen was found at Acle, near Norwich (BNJ 1992, p.221, no.255). Another from different dies was found at Pitt, Hampshire, in 1991 (BNJ 1992, p.221, no.256), and a third is understood to have been found in Kent