Very Rare Danelaw Weight

Sale: CNG 76, Lot: 1855. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 12 September 2007.  Sold For $1600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON, Danish East Anglia. Coin weight. Late 9th century. Circular lead weight with inset coin (48.10 g). Coin is a local issue of an AR Penny of Alfred the Great (871-899): first coinage, lunette type, circa 871-875; uncertain mint and moneyer (cf. North 625; cf. SCBC 1057). Cf. Williams, Anglo-Saxon 21 (for type), and 22 (for value). For weight: Good condition, tan and brown patina, small area chipped off edge; for coin: VF. Very rare multiple-value weight.

Williams' analysis of the known weights of this type clearly places them in the Danelaw during the later ninth century, when the Viking economy was still bullion-based, and weights were used for weighing both coinage and bullion. Based on a value of 24-26.6 g for a Viking ounce (eyrir), this particular weight, at 48.01 g, is equivalent to two Viking aurar, or ounces. The purpose of the coins set into one end of these weights is uncertain, but Williams argues that they served as a symbol of authority. Although the Viking economy was still pre-monetary, Williams notes that the Vikings were familiar with coinage and likely recognized that coin designs represented state authority. He also suggests that the Vikings were probably familiar with the Anglo-Saxon weights, which were validated by being stamped with official dies, and argues that the lack of coin dies for validating their own weights was remedied by applying a coin within each. Williams points out that the fact that the coins were issued by Anglo-Saxon kings was irrelevant, as the vast majority of the Vikings were illiterate.