Why Do I Keep Buying These?

I love medieval English coins. That Edward I is an especially nice one; you're lucky to have it. I have two Edward I pennies, but they aren't nearly that nice. Maybe I should look for a better one.

My oldest English coin is a silver sceatt of East Anglia, c.710-740. Those aren't easy to find; I wouldn't mind getting more, but I don't often run into them and when I do they are usually really expensive. One of my favorite English coins is a Cnut penny that is well-struck and in an excellent state of preservation, much like your Edward I. Another favorite of mine is an Irish penny of King John. The triangle device that they used on Irish coins at that time is very attractive.

I'll post images of these eventually.

Heather

England certainly is a good source for coins from the British Isles. Although I live in the United States, I got most of my better ones from dealers in England. It would be easier if I lived there or visited, but fortunately there are many dealers who will sell to international customers.

If I remember correctly, the silver sceatt, an Alexander III penny (scotland), about a dozen Celtic coins, and one or two others came from dealers in England. The Cnut was from a U.S. dealer, and it was around 2000 when I got it; I wonder if it came from those hoards. I don't remember for certain what I paid for it, but it seemed quite reasonable at the time.

I don't seem to keep good records of where I get things and how much I pay - I should probably get better about that.

Heather

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Originally posted by Heather the Hoarder
The Cnut was from a U.S. dealer, and it was around 2000 when I got it; I wonder if it came from those hoards. I don't remember for certain what I paid for it, but it seemed quite reasonable at the time.
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I don't seem to keep good records of where I get things and how much I pay - I should probably get better about that.

Heather

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Alot of the Cnut and Æthelred II coins generally have come from hoards, as have many Henry I and II coins. The former two though more so because they were used as payment of the Danegeld. Most Æthelred II coins were minted in England and shipped in bulk quantities of many millions to Denmark as bribe money. The agreement was, the Danes wanted money, the English didn't want invading, raiding, looting etc. So the Danes kindly agreed to negotiate instead, if England coughed up a few million pence every few years then the Danes promised not to invade. England was very rich at the time and agreed to pay, the Danes generally kept their word. Sometimes however, they'd accept the English payment and then invade England anyhow and take some more. So it should come as no surprise that alot of the hoards of these coins are found in Denmark.

Coins of the Norman period turn up in England and in France. Post Norman tend to turn up in England more often that anywhere else. Although Edward I pennies really got around.

Of your last paragraph about keeping records this is fairly important, generally for insurance reasons, but also it's a good idea to keep photographs and written records of what you've got somewhere safe so that if any coins are stolen then you've got; 1) evidence you had the coins in the first place, 2) The coins might turn up for sale someplace and if they do you can ask the dealer who they got it from and it can possibly be traced back to whoever stole them. Doesn't mean you'll get your coins back but it might prevent them from repeating their crime elsewhere.

Of prices, it's best not to keep prices of what you paid, but more realistic market values, which in my experience aren't necessarily one and the same!

Ah now there is a question that cannot be answered with one answer. From what I'm led to believe Arthur's time was supposed to be sometimes between the transition from the end of Roman rule and into the early Dark Ages. I'd say you'd want to be looking for 5th/6th century stuff, which is virtually non existant.

The Roman coinage ceased in the early 400s CE, the Saxon coinage appeared in around 600 CE. In the two centuries between very little coinage was used, what little was, was from the continent.


In depth;

http://www.predecimal.com/p3saxon.htm

From what I know they havn't made up there minds yet, I think most people are leaning towards him as beig a a real person but his life exagerated.

Great, now every one let me know when you locate a post-Roman hoard and I will be ready to jump on board. Actually I have a few ancients (3 to 5) so I will have to dig them out and see just what they are. Thanks for the info guys/gals!

Andy Bruce!Amazing stuff for under 10 Pounds all medievel and a few moderns, https://www.onlinecoins.co.uk

Tahnkjs!

My only problem is that unless I know them well I will only deal with a domestic dealer.