Sale: CNG 75, Lot: 1434. Estimate $1500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 23 May 2007.  Sold For $1000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON, Secondary Sceattas. Circa 730-765. AR Sceat (1.08 g, 3h). Series L, type 18. London mint. Neat diademed and draped bust right; cross before / Figure standing facing, head right, in crescent-shaped boat, holding long cross pommée and bird. Beowulf 64 (this coin); Abramson K350 var. (perch on rev.); Metcalf 331; North 72; SCBC 827. Good VF, toned. Exceptional Romanized style.

From the Beowulf Collection.

As with Type 12 (see lot 1432, above), the reverse of type 18 adopts the obverse type of Series U, except that one of the crosses has been replaced by a bird. Such a depiction has secular and sacred prototypes, most often interpreted as either an aristocratic benefactor with his falcon, or as St. John with his eagle. The elements of the type also have parallels in the legend of the saint-king Oswald, who was the most popular English royal saint at the time (Gannon, pp. 96-7).