Sale: Triton VI, Lot: 1339. Estimate $2000.  Closing Date: Monday, 13 January 2003.  Sold For $1500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON. Aethelred II. 978-1016. AR Penny (1.06 gm). Cambridge mint; Elwig, moneyer. Last small cross type, circa 1009-1017. +EDELRED REX ANG, diademed bust left, extending past inner circle to edge of coin / +ELFPIG MON GRANT, small cross pattée. North 778; SCBC 1155 var. (bust presentation). Toned VF. Extremely rare and possibly unique for mint. ($2000)

From the William J. Conte Collection. I

n 1962, C. S. S. Lyon published “Two Notes on the ‘Last Small Cross’ type of Aethelred II” in BNJ XXX1, pp. 49-51, listing the four known specimens which resemble this type, upon which the North classification is made. This unique piece from Canterbury differs from the known London mint specimens in the following ways: first, the obverse legend on the London mint issues start at the normal 12:00 position while on this piece the legend begins on the left at 7:00; and second, the inner circle on this piece goes over the top of the bust design rather than stopping at each shoulder.