Ancient, British and World Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

Hiberno-Norse issues (c.995-c.1150), Ireland, Hiberno-Norse, Phase V, Penny, crude facing head, chin pointed, pellet eyes, curves as eyebrows, five pellets in field around, meaningless legend composed of strokes around, reverse two objects resembling scourges, two crosses pommée between them, legend of strokes, 0.9 gms (S. 6180; O’ Sullivan 53; Roth 23). Buckled, otherwise very fine or better, ghost impression of obverse showing on reverse, excessively rare (£750-850)

There are no obvious prototypes for these coins, though Roth notes similar heads on some Danish bracteates struck from 940-960. The objects on the reverse are difficult to explain, they resemble scourges and Roth makes the suggestion they may form a reference to the scourging of Christ, though in the context of the Hiberno-Norse coinage this seems unlikely. Only two examples in the BM. No examples in the Important Collection of Hiberno-Norse Silver Pennies = Stuart Lane (Spink Coin Auctions 23, September 21, 1982).

Seaby [1984] F - £500; VF - £1,000.