★ Extremely Rare Type ★

England. Aethelred II. 978-1016. AR Penny (10mm, 1.70 g, 5h). Intermediate Small Cross type (BMC i, Hild. D). Oxford mint; moneyer Wulfwine. Struck circa 997. +ÆÐELRED REX ΛNGLთX, diademed and draped bust left / + PVLFPINE M-O OXNAF, small cross pattee. BEH - ; North 773. Extremely rare. Near Extremely Fine, slightly wavy flan.

In the EMC and SCBI database only six intermediate small cross registered. The last known example of intermediate small cross, according to MCSearch.info database, was sold by Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 85 lot No. 1464 for 5500$. The present piece is of far better quality.

The Aethelred Intermediate Small Cross type is extremely rare and it was only struck for a short period of time at the following south western mints: Barnstaple, Gloucester, Ilchester, Malmesbury, Oxford, Wilton, Winchcombe, Winchester, and Worcester. One of the differences between the Intermediate and the common Aethelred Last Small Cross was identified by Dolley and Jones by the special თ character in the obverse legend. See “An Intermediate Small Cross issue of Aethelraed II and some late varieties of the Crux type” in BNJ No 28, 1955-57).