Sale: CNG 75, Lot: 1353. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 23 May 2007.  Sold For $1210. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON, Primary Sceattas. Circa 680-710. AR Sceat (1.18 g, 12h). Series BZ, type 29 variety. Mint in East Anglia. Rudimentary facing head of Christ / Dove standing left on cross; annulet in upper left quarter. Beowulf 15 (this coin); Abramson BZ10 var. (rev. type right); Metcalf -; North 131 var. (same); SCBC 778. Good VF, toned. Extremely rare with type left reverse.

From the Beowulf Collection.

Regarding the reverse, there are multiple varieties of types depicting birds and crosses, all reflecting Christian iconography: the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, and the cross. The diverse array of prototypes, both from numismatics and elsewhere, account for the many variations in their style and presentation (Gannon, pp. 107-112).