Kings of Kent, Eadberht Praen, Penny, "Boeotian" shield reverse moneyer Duda

Eadberht Praen (796-798), King of Kent, silver Penny, "Boeotian Shield" type reverse, Canterbury Mint, moneyer Dudda, three line obverse within linear and outer beaded circles, .:EAD. / BEARH / REX, rev. moneyer name in two lines, DV / DA surrounded by pellets on shield like device, cross with pellet in each angle either side of shield in the incurved sides, weight 1.37g (cf. BMC 2-3; Naismith CSE C5.1; N.202/1; S.875). Darkish tone of contrasting colour emphasising the lettering and design, extremely fine and of the highest rarity with only one other example recorded by Naismith, this coin being found since his publication.

Eadberht was a member of priestly orders by 796 and had taken exile in Francia either to avoid execution or upon order of Offa who had tried to extradite him around 795, however Charlemagne sent him with other exiles to Pope Leo in Rome to ensure Leo did not listen to the requests of the then visiting Archbishop Aethelheard of Canterbury who wanted them sent home. Upon Offa's death in 796 Eadberht renounced his priestly vows and with a possible dynastic connection to the male line of the Royal House of Kent he led a rebellion in the county causing Aethelheard to flee rather than consecrate him King of Kent, leading to a rift with the church in which Pope Leo refused to recognise his actions. King Coenwulf of Mercia did obtain the backing of the Pope and invaded Kent in 798 and Eadberht Praen was captured, blinded and had his hands cut off then imprisoned. The succeeding King of Kent Cuthred felt safe enough to release Eadberht by 805 and it is thought he lived out his final days as a monk possibly in the Winchcombe area.

The obverse legend translates as "Eadberht King" and the reverse with moneyer name "Duda"

Provenance:

Found near Maidstone, Kent, August 2016, EMC 2016.0254.

Ex Timeline Auction, Essex, 10^th December 2016, lot 3000.

Ex Spink Coin Auction, 15^th September 2020, lot 5.

Ex Collection of an English Doctor, part one, Sovereign Rarities, London, March 2022.