Sale: CNG 75, Lot: 1385. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 23 May 2007.  Sold For $950. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON, Continental Sceattas. Circa 710-740. AR Sceat (1.27 g, 9h). Series X, type 31. Ribe mint. ‘Wodan head’ facing; pellet above, crosses flanking / Fantastic creature left, head right, biting its trefoil tail; two pellets (in bar) below head. Beowulf 51 (this coin); Abramson X100; Metcalf 278; North 116; SCBC 843. EF, toned.

From the Beowulf Collection.

Backwards-looking animals such as that on the reverse of this coin are among the most enduring images in ancient Europe. In pre-Christian times, these creatures typically appeared as custodians of treasure. It is possible that they were assimilated in the Christian period as guardians of one’s soul (Gannon, pp. 149-150).