Coenwulf

Free-hand drawing of the Coenwulf mancus, a gold coin of the early 9th century, after a photograph at britishmuseum.org[1] (BM inv. nr. 2006,0204.1). The obverse is inscribed COENVVLF REX M̄ (i.e. Coenuulf Rex Merciae or Merciorum, "Coenwulf King of Mercia" or "of the Mercians"), the reverse DEVICOLVNDONIAE (i.e. de vico Lundoniae). The coin was found 2001, in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire and was acquired by the BM in 2006. Weight: 4.33 g, diameter: 20 mm. This is the only known gold coin of Coenwulf (r. 796-821), and one of only eight known British gold coins of the period 700-1250. The coin was minted in London, and has seen little or no circulation, as it was probably lost shortly after it was issued.

The similarity to a solidus of Charlemagne inscribed vico Duristat (i.e. Dorestad; BM nr. G3,FrGC.10 [Coins & Medals, George III collection, French nr. 10]) has been taken to suggest that the two coins reflect a rivalry between the two kings, although it is unknown which coin has priority (Williams 2008).

Literature:

• Gareth Williams, Early Anglo-Saxon Coins (2008), 43–45.
• John Blair, Building Anglo-Saxon England (2018), p. 230.
• on the Carolingian solidus: K.F. Morrison, H. Grunthal, Carolingian Coinage" ,Numism. Notes a. Monographs 158 (1967), p. 180, n° 643; Ph. Grierson, "Money and Coinage under Charlemagne" in: Karl der Grosse I (1966), p. 533.