Image: Coenwulf

Description: Free-hand drawing of the Coenwulf mancus, a gold coin of the early 9th century, after a photograph at britishmuseum.org[1] (BM inv. nr. 2006,0204.1). The obverse is inscribed COENUULF REX, the reverse DEVICOLUNDONIAE (viz. de vico Lundoniae). The coin was found 2001, in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire and was acquired by the BM in 2006. Weight: 4.33 g, diameter: 20 mm. This is the only known gold coin of Coenwulf (r. 796-821), and one of only eight known British gold coins of the period 700-1250. The coin was minted in London, and has seen little or no circulation, as it was probably lost shortly after it was issued.

The similarity to a solidus of Charlemagne inscribed vico Duristat (i.e. Dorestad; BM nr. G3,FrGC.10 [Coins & Medals, George III collection, French nr. 10]) has been taken to suggest that the two coins reflect a rivalry between the two kings, although it is unknown which coin has priority (Williams 2008).

Literature:

Gareth Williams, Early Anglo-Saxon Coins (2008), 43–45. John Blair, Building Anglo-Saxon England (2018), p. 230. on the Carolingian solidus: K.F. Morrison, H. Grunthal, Carolingian Coinage" ,Numism. Notes a. Monographs 158 (1967), p. 180, n° 643; Ph. Grierson, "Money and Coinage under Charlemagne" in: Karl der Grosse I (1966), p. 533.
Usage Terms: Public domain