Triton XX, Lot: 1519. Estimate $30000. Sold for $130000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON, Anglo-Viking (Hiberno-Norse Northumbria). Eric Bloodaxe. Second reign, 952-954. AR Penny (20.5mm, 1.35 g, 10h). Sword type. York mint; Ingelgar, moneyer. ·ERIC·/·REX· in two lines; between, sword right and triple-pellets; triple-pellets above and below / + INGELGAR · IOT, cross pattée, pellets in quarters. CTCE Group XI, b-m; SCBI 4 (Copenhagen), 649–51 var. (rev. legend); BMS 1278–9 var. (same); North 550; SCBC 1030. Near EF, toned. A few deposits, slight bend in flan. Extremely rare and the most desirable of all Viking coins.

Ex Sotheby’s (24 April 1997), lot 695. Found in North Lincolnshire, 1987.

“…rise quickly and go and meet the prince. Invite him in, it is Eiríkr; it is he I am expecting… he has reddened his blade in many a land and borne a bloody sword… Good fortune to you now, Eiríkr: you will be welcome here, and go, wise, into the hall. ”
 After falling in battle Eric Bloodaxe is greeted by Odin at the entrance to Valhalla. From the ‘Eiríksmál’, a skadlic pangeryic composed for Eric’s widow, Grunnhild.

This coin is the only example of a Sword type Penny of Eric Bloodaxe to be offered at public auction since the sale of the famous R. C. Lockett collection in 1955.