Sale: CNG 75, Lot: 1411. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 23 May 2007.  Sold For $500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON, Secondary Sceattas. Circa 710-765. AR Sceat (0.91 g, 12h). Type 73 (Series R/QII mule). Mint in East Anglia. Crude bust right; annulet behind, Runic ER (retrograde) before / Lion standing right; pellets around. Beowulf 84 (this coin); Abramson Q410; cf. Metcalf 388; North -; SCBC 832B. EF, toned. Very rare, and a superb example.

From the Beowulf Collection.

The animal depicted on the reverse is debatable, but is now thought to represent a lion. Although there are many negative allegories relating to lions in early Christianity, in later times the lion became a symbol of Christ, as the Lion of Judah, and his Resurrection (Gannon, pp. 125-134).