Description
Aethelred II (978-1016), Penny, Long cross type (c.997-1003), Lincoln mint, moneyer Unbein, bare headed bust left, pellet behind, legend commences from bottom left +ÆĐELRED REX ΛNGORX. Rev, long voided cross with tri-crescent terminals, pellet at centre, reads +VNBEIN MΩO LINC, 20mm, 1.57g (S.1151; N.774; BMC IVa; Mossop 23; SCBI 7 [Copenhagen], 622-23; SCBI 9 [Ashmoleon], 532).
Darkly toned with a fully centred strike, legends clear for the most part and portrait comprehensive, some peckmarks both sides, obverse die possible slightly worn. Reverse, underlying tan mint lustre around the periphery, clear moneyer mint script. Very fine, pleasing.
On the moneyer Unbein, derived from the old norse [ON] Ubeinn. A Lincoln based moneyer represented mainly in the following abbreviations when appearing in script: VNBEIN, HVNBEIN, VNBEGEN, VNBEGN, VNBEIN, VNBEN. Predominantly arising on the following Aethelred II pennies; first hand type [Hild B1], Crux types [Hild C], Long cross issue [Hild D]. Earlier one can also see activity of the moneyer name for Eadred’s portrait Penny [BMC V] and later Eadgar’s Two line type [BMC 1].
