Kings of Mercia Berhtwulf AD 840-852 Silver Penny Group I

Kings of Mercia Berhtwulf AD 840-852 Silver Penny Group I

Crude profile bust facing right, Moneyer Burnwald

S935; 21mm, 1.00g. minor edge chips and small crack at 12 o’clock. An interesting study piece given the crude style.

This coin comes with previous collectors handwritten label and is a part of the St Austell collection, formed in the 1990’s-2000’s.

Beorhtwulf (839/840-852): During Beorhtwulf’s rule (also known as Berhtwulf), England came under increasingly more attacks from Scandinavian raiders – attacks which would come to a head in 851, with the sacking of London that ‘put Beorhtwulf and his army to flight’ (according to the Anglo-Saxon chronicle). A continued subservience to Wessex is perhaps supported by the fact that during his reign, Mercia ceded yet more territory to the kingdom. However, in matters monetary Beorhtwulf was apparently allowed more freedoms than his predecessor Wiglaf – as he issued many more coins, perhaps with mind to stimulate economic regeneration.