Northumbria Alchred and Archbishop Ecgberht 765-766AD Silver Sceat

Northumbria Alchred and Archbishop Ecgberht 765-766AD Silver Sceat Cross each side

S854, 13x14mm, 1.05g

A seldom seen issue, especially so in this condition.

This coin is a part of the ‘John Cross Collection’ of Anglo Saxon coins. John was an avid collector of coins from across the Anglo Saxon period for many years, he sadly passed away in 2020. His coins were recovered by executors who appear to have destroyed all paperwork relating to them meaning that there are no tickets or provenance prior to his collection. Tony Abramson has compiled an inventory of his early coins, a copy of which is available on request and individual numbers on the back of our tickets relate to this. The collection contains many rarities, seldom offered on the open market so this is a good opportunity for collectors to obtain rare coins which are usually unavailable.

Alchred (765-774) – a relation of Archbishop Ecberht of York by marriage, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle comments very little on Alchred’s reign, except to state that his reign ended in deposition and exile – after which he allegedly fled to Scotland. However, some surviving documentary evidence suggests that he was involved in the endorsing of several religious missions to mainland Europe.