Primary Sceatta (c 680 – 710 AD); Aethelred of Mercia (attributed). 1.11g. (N. 155, S. 780). REF: HOVZSM.
Obverse: Crude head right formed of an arc surmounted by a comb of quills, three lines below. Reverse: Runic script ÆTHIL RÆD over two lines separated by a horizontal bar, RÆD inverted; all within two pellet circles.
Small thick flan of good metal, dark fields, silver high points (a little wear and polishing). Extremely rare and very fine.
This sceatta type has been the cause of some debate. Aethelred of Mercia ruled between 675 and 704 AD, and thus if the attribution is correct then the type can be used to date the series. Unfortunately the find pattern does not support this theory, the majority of the coins having been found in East Kent.
Obverse
Reverse