Coins

Kings of Mercia, A unique and highly important Penny of the Mercian King Ludica, struck in London:

Ludica (826-7), Penny, London, no moneyer’s name, diademed bust right, + lvdica rex mer, rev. + lvn donia civit in three lines across field, 1.22g/12h (EMC 2016.0014; Naismith, BNJ 2019, pp.204-7; BLS –; N –; S –). Slightly bent, otherwise better than very fine, UNIQUE £10,000-£15,000

Provenance: Found at Combe Bissett (Wiltshire), January 2016.

Only ten coins of Ludica are known; all the others are without a mint signature, struck by the moneyers Eadgar, Eadnoth and Werebald at an uncertain East Anglian mint, possibly Ipswich. This unique example of the ruler’s London coinage stands out as the most significant both numismatically, and in terms of informing our understanding of Mercian history. The mint-signature on the reverse clearly demonstrates that the Mercians continued to hold London throughout the mid to late 820s, and that the city was not captured by Ecgberht until at least after Ludica’s death in 827. In light of the existence 0f this coin it is now clear that Ecgberht’s own lvndonia civit coinage (Naismith 2011 L30a) was designed not as a remarkable celebratory issue following the capture of London, but instead as a way of suggesting monetary continuity with his defeated Mercian foe.

Equally significant is the portrait of Ludica on the obverse. Bold and almost naturalistic in style in comparison with contemporary numismatic portraits, the image stands in contrast not only to the other coins of Ludica, but also those struck under his predecessors at London. When taken together with the reference to lvndonia civit on the reverse, it is tempting to see this as a sign of lingering Roman Influence on Anglo-Saxon kingship. Perhaps during his brief and conflict-ridden reign Ludica drew inspiration from the legacy left by his revered Roman predecessors in an attempt to consolidate his own authority