Description
Aethelred II (978-1016), Penny, Small Crux type (c.995-997) Rochester mint, moneyer Sidewine, inner linear circles both sides, bare headed bust left, in front trefoil tipped sceptre, cutting into drapery, legend surrounds +ÆĐELRÆD REX ANGLOR. Rev, short cross voided with CRUX in angles, reading SIDPINE M-O ROFEC, 1.31g (S.1149; N.770 var ; BMC IIIa).
A concise and well struck example of this scarcer type, in a smaller module flan, characteristic peck marks, plain serifless letters and a different portrait to the conventional Crux issue; the sceptre penetrating the drapery, considerably rare. Near very fine for mint and type.
cf., BNJ 28 ‘The small crux issue of Aethelred II’ by B. H. I. H. Stewart (1955, Third Series VIII)
