Castle Gotha - “Gothaburh” Mint

CNG 102, Lot: 1456. Estimate $4000. Sold for $4250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Aethelred II. 978-1016. AR Penny (20mm, 1.73 g, 6h). Last Small Cross type (BMC i, Hild. A). “Gothaburh” mint; Goda, moneyer. Struck circa 1009-1017. Diademed and draped bust left / + GODΛ IB GΘÐΛBУRI, small cross pattée. R.H.M. Dolley and F. Elmore Jones, “The Mints 'Æt Gothabyrig' and 'Æt Sith(m)estebyrig,” in BNJ (1955-1957), XXII, 6 = Hild 1131; SCBI 50 (Hermitage), 1200 (same dies); North 777; SCBC 1154. Good VF, a few pecks. Extremely rare – the third known, and the only one in private hands.

From the Dr. Andrew Wayne Collection. Ex Spink 228 (25 March 2015), lot 537.

The location of the very rare mint “Gothaburh,” also cited as “Castle Gotha,” remains uncertain. Earlier authors placed it at Godalming in Surrey, Jedburg in Roxburghshire, Dewsbury in Yorkshire, Woodborough in Nottinghamshire, Idbury in Oxfordshire, or “Ythanceaster” in Essex, but none with conclusive evidence. Stylistic comparison by Dolley and Elmore-Jones with other last small cross issues reveal that the coins of this mint belong to the south-western group, suggesting a location somewhere in West Wessex. Furthermore, the moneyer Goda is known at the Devon mints of Lydford and Totnes.