Sale: CNG 75, Lot: 1398. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 23 May 2007.  Sold For $1550. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON, Secondary Sceattas. Circa 710-760. AR Sceat (1.15 g, 12h). Type 30a. Mint in the East Midlands. ‘Wodan head’, with long mustache and W-shaped beard, facing; pellets around / Two figures standing facing, figure on right with head left, each holding cross in outer hand, inner arms extended to ground; three pellets between heads. Beowulf 93 (this coin); Abramson P900 var. (cross between); Metcalf 431 var. (same); North 171 var. (same); SCBC 844. Good VF, lightly toned. Rare.

From the Beowulf Collection.

The prototype for the facing head on Type 30 sceattas can be found in images of Medusa, which were commonly used as good luck charms in the Roman period (Gannon, pp. 30-31). The reverse type has numerous possible prototypes in classical sources, both numismatic and non-numismatic. These diverse origins notwithstanding, there are common ideas enshrined in them that certainly were influential in the development of this type. The crosses around the figures serve the same apotropaic function as on the similar, single-figure type (see lot 1363, above), but the addition of a second figure with similar features implies concerted action among equals (Gannon, pp. 101-103).