Sale: CNG 75, Lot: 1424. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 23 May 2007.  Sold For $1700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON, Secondary Sceattas. Circa 725-745. AR Sceat (1.01 g, 3h). Series QIE, type 98. Mint in the east Midlands. Diademed and draped half-length bust right, holding cross; pellets around / Lion standing left, looking right; pellets around. Beowulf 76 (this coin); Abramson Q080; Metcalf 385; North -; cf. SCBC 836. EF, toned. Rare.

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).