CNG 91, Lot: 1448. Estimate $300. Sold for $390. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON, Primary Sceattas. Circa 680-710. AR Sceatta (11mm, 0.92 g, 10h). Series BIIIA, Type 27a. Mint in Essex or East Anglia. Crude head right; cross to right / Dove standing right on cross; annulets and pellets flanking; [blundered legend in margin]. Rigold BIIIA, 5 var. (dove left); Abramson BGJ20; Metcalf –; North 125; SCBC 777B. Good VF, darkly toned.

Abramson’s defining of his type BGJ20 as “Series B or G2a/Series J mule, formerly BIIIB” is perplexing, as the coin illustrating this type on p. 50 is virtually the same dies as SCBI 1 (Fitzwilliam) 253, the coin Rigold uses to define his Series BIIIA, 5. In fact, the series J doves are far more crude in appearance, and quite different from the prototypes of Series BI or BII. As this coin features a dove nearly identical to the prototypes, it fits the definition of BIIIA.