World Coins

Auction has Anglo-Saxon coin found by metal detecting

A unique silver penny that was found in 2016 by a metal detectorist highlights Dix Noonan Webb’s June 14 to 16 auction.

Images courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb.

An Anglo-Saxon silver penny found by a metal detectorist highlights Dix Noonan Webb’s June 14 to 16 auction.

The coin is the only one of its type available to the market, according to DNW.


Numismatic Bookie tackles how an 1804 dollar appeared before coin was struck’Numismatic Bookie’ tackles how an 1804 dollar appeared in a Budapest book before any were struck: Inside Coin World: This week, we find an 1804 dollar in a book two years before any of the coins were struck, a reader questions


The coin bears the name of Jænberht, who was Archbishop of Canterbury in the late eighth century. What distinguishes this coin from others of its type is the absence of the name of King Offa of Mercia, who was seeking to extend his power over the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

This coin was found by a metal detectorist at Sheldwich, near Canterbury, Kent, in September 2016.

The only other known example was found in North Yorkshire in 1993 and is now in the Yorkshire Museum. 

Connect with Coin World:  

Sign up for our free eNewsletter
Like us on Facebook  
Follow us on Twitter

Until the 1993 find, all coins naming Jænberht also bore Offa’s name. The penny found at Sheldwich dates from 775 to 779, a brief period when Kent reasserted its independence from Offa.

The coin has an estimate of £10,000 to £12,000 ($12,843 to $15,412).


Community Comments