Important British and World Coinsxx

Harold I (1035-1040), Penny, Long Cross and Fleur de Lis type, Shaftesbury, Ægelric, ÆGELRIC ON SCEFT, the rev. legend retrograde, 0.87g/9h (BEH –; SCBI 51, 995, same dies; N 803; S 1165). The rim very slightly chipped from 12 to 2 o’clock, otherwise better than very fine, extremely rare; the better of the two known specimens £800-1,000

Provenance: Found at Sixpenny Handley, near Blandford Forum (Dorset) April 2008. EMC 2008.0264.

Ægelric is a known moneyer for Harold’s Jewel Cross type but is only known from one other coin in the Fleur de Lis type. Apart from the retrograde legend, the style and fabric of the coin suggest that it is not a contemporary Scandinavian copy but an official, if unusual, product of the named mint