Kings of Northumbria Aldfrith AD 685-705 Silver Sceatta

Kings of Northumbria Aldfrith AD 685-705 Silver Sceatta

Central boss, ALDFRIDVS around / Lion with triple tail above

S846. 11mm, 1.22g

A decent example of the first Northumbrian king.

Aldfrith (685-705) – Aldfrith was the first King of Northumbria to issue coins and also one of the earliest English rulers known to display his name on a coin itself. A well-educated churchman who became king on the death of his older brother Ecgfrith, under his rule Northumbria entered its so-called ‘golden age’. He was a direct contemporary of both Bede and Alcuin, both of whom write favourably about him. Image courtesy of CNG Inc.