Portrait Offa from the Stack, Noble, & Rath Collections

CNG 88, Lot: 2040. Estimate $15000. Sold for $14000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Mercia. Offa. 757-796. AR Penny (16mm, 1.20 g, 7h). Light coinage; portrait type. Canterbury mint; Ethilwald, moneyer. Struck circa 780-792. ·: +. Θ·:FF·Ạ· R·EX + :·, diademed bust right / AE ð·IL:· VA ·L∂, short cross batonnée over short cross in saltire; all within circle and set on long voided cross pommée with globule in each limb. Chick type 10b (this coin); SCBI 42 (Peterborough), 634 (same dies); BMC 18 var. (legends); North 310; SCBC 905. Good VF, toned. Excellent metal. A superb portrait piece.

Ex Stack Collection (Sotheby’s, 22 April 1999), lot 286; purchased from New Netherlands Coin Company, 7 November 1977; Spink Numismatic Circular LXXXV.9 (September 1977), no. 8242; Mr. & Mrs. B. R. Noble Collection (Glendining, 11 December 1975), lot 366; Rath Collection (Sotheby’s, 6 December 1974), lot 109. Found on the Downs, Maldon, Essex, circa 1925.