Sale: CNG 75, Lot: 1426. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 23 May 2007.  Sold For $1600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON, Secondary Sceattas. Circa 725-745. AR Sceat (1.00 g, 9h). Series QIIC, type 65. Mint in the east Midlands. Bird standing left; cross before, pellets around / Quadruped left, head right; pellets around. Beowulf 78 (this coin); Abramson Q320 var. (two crosses on obv.); Metcalf p. 494 var. (same); North 138; SCBC 836ii. 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).