First Coinage of Alfred
ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Wessex. Alfred the Great. 871-899. AR Penny (19mm, 1.32 g, 4h). Lunettes type A (BMC i). Canterbury or London mint; Wine, moneyer. Struck circa 871-875. RE+ ELFRED ·:·, diademed Mercian style bust right / :MON:·/·:ETΛ::· in lunettes above and below +VVINE. Lyons & MacKay,
Lunettes, Group 2, Variant IV, unlisted dies; SCBI -; BMC -; North 625; SCBC 1057. EF, some luster. Extremely rare moneyer for type.
Alfred is the only English monarch ever to be titled “the Great.” He was able to resist Viking assaults on Wessex and recaptured London around 880. In the areas of law, administration, and commerce, his accomplishments included a new code, government reorganization, and a new weight standard for his coinage. Alfred also promoted learning, and started translating the ‘Pastoralis’ from Latin into English.
