File:Early Medieval coin, Two fused pennies of Edward the Elder (FindID 197707).jpg

English: CORONER'S REPORT

Description of find

Two 10th Century AD silver pennies fused together and broken into two pieces, only the reverse of each is visible. The two coins are bent inwards towards coin 2 (see below), and broken along the bend line. The break is modern. The combined weight is 3.03g, but the coins are slightly chipped in two places, so total weight would have been slightly higher.

Catalogue

1) Silver penny, probably of Edward the Elder, 899-c.910 AD
Obv: Not visible
Rev: HB1 E, Moneyer's name in two lines with row of three crosses between and nothing above or below, all within a double pellet border VVLF/ARD+

Diameter: 20.2mm
Condition: Fine
Reference: North 649 cf.BMC 61 ex Cuerdale

2) Silver penny of the tenth century AD, 899-946 AD
Obv: Not visible
Rev: HP1, Moneyer's name in two lines with row of three crosses between and a single pellet above [and below], all within a single pellet border D(EO)RV/[...]

Diameter: 20.7mm
Condition: Poor
Reference: North 649, 688/2 or 689

Combined weight: 3.03 grams

Identification

Because the coins are fused together only the reverses of each can be seen and coin 2 is very damaged, further hampering identification.

Coin 1: Blunt et al (1989) Coinage in Tenth Century England (Oxford: OUP) p. 25, 27, and 71, No.298, identify Wulfheard as a moneyer of the Winchester mint from the lettering style who first becomes active under Edward the Elder and continues to mint under Athelstan. However the contraction of his name to Wulfard and the small diameter may suggest a date in the Early period of the reign of Edward the Elder, i.e. 899-c.910 AD. This association is strengthened by a strong similarity (the two coins may possibly be from the same reverse die) with a coin of Edward's early period in the British Museum collection (BMC ii, p. 93, no. 60).

Coin 2: Greater damage to this coin makes interpretation harder. Deorvald (Deorwald) struck two line pennies of the HP1 type under Edward the Elder, and Eadmund, and is also recorded as a moneyer for Athelstan, although not in this type. The lettering style on this type is small and neat suggesting a southern mint. Blunt et al (ibid p 92) suggest that Deorwald minted at Winchester, Kent and London but mostly in Winchester. The appearance of the coin is consistent with the early style of coin 1, and it is likely that the coins were deposited in the earlier part of the reign of Edward the Elder. However, since Edward's early coins continued to circulate, it is difficult to assign a firm date for the deposition of the coins beyond the first half of the tenth century, although it is more likely to be towards the earlier end of this period.

Fusing

The coins are solidly fused together although some air spaces remain between them. This and the distortion of the flan with small bubbles may suggest the coin has been burnt, presumably accidentally. While this could have happened after deposition, for example during stubble burning, the fact the coins were in close proximity while being burnt may suggest they were burnt while held together in a purse or other container. The greater amount of damage on coin 2 may suggest it was less protected from the heat source or there was another coin or item there which has subsequently been lost.

Age and metal-content

These two coins were found fused together and must have been lost or deposited together. The coins have not been analysed, since there is sufficient existing data to indicate that coins of this period are consistently well above the threshold of 10% set down by the Treasure Act (1996). There is nothing to indicate the original ownership of the coins. Consequently, in terms of all of the relevant criteria, the coins appear to represent a prima facie case of Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act (1996).