Edward the Elder Penny AU50, Portrait type, East Anglia mint, Leofhelm

Edward the Elder (899-924),silver Penny, portrait type, Moneyer Leofhelm, East Anglia style, draped diademed bust left, Latin legend with inner linear and outer beaded circles surrounding, legend commences upper right, +EADVVEARD REX,rev.three cross pattées across centre, cross pattée at top with three pellet triangle either side and one further one at bottom of centre, Moneyer name in two lines, LEOFH / ELM MO, contraction mark above MO, weight 1.56g (CTCE 31; SCBI Oxford 9:307; BMC type iii; N.651; S.1084).Toned with some evidence of die clash with ghosting of lettering in obverse field, some weakness at one part of rim, otherwise with a well defined portrait, has been graded and slabbed by PCGS as AU50 and very rare.

PCGS Certification 895983.50/45680533.

The obverse Latin legend translates as "Edward King" and the reverse as "Leofhelm Moneyer."

Edward the Elder born circa 871 was the elder of the sons of Alfred the Great and was already in charge of part of the army by the age of 21, and probably acted as his Father's deputy in continued skirmishes as late as 896 and was the natural choice to succeed him in 899 as full Ruler of Wessex and Mercia. From 917 a further annexation program commenced as Edward started to take over the "Five Boroughs" of the Danelaw and East Anglia. He then remained unchallenged of an enlarged England until his death on 17th July 924 aged around 53, leaving a large family of at least ten daughters and five sons by three wives.

Provenance:

Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 103, 14^th September 2016, lot 1164.