An Anglo-Saxon silver penny minted in Exeter around 895–899 bears the inscriptions AELFRED REX SAXONUM and EXA, representing the first known use of the name Exeter. Only three examples of this coin are known, with two held by the British Museum and this example returning to Exeter. The coin and another were found in the Cuerdale Viking Silver Hoard in 1840; the hoard contains over 8,600 objects. King Alfred designated Exeter, alongside Winchester, as a royal headquarters, prompting wall repairs, a new street grid and rapid urban growth, making Exeter one of Britain’s most prosperous cities by 1000. The penny was privately owned since 1844, last sold in 1989, and was acquired by RAMM using donated funds.
The Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM) has acquired an incredibly rare Anglo-Saxon silver penny inscribed with the first known use of the city name Exeter. There are only three examples of this coin known to exist, and the other two are in the British Museum, so this is the only coin marking the beginning of the modern city of Exeter to return home to Exeter.
On one side it proclaims AELFRED REX SAXONUM (Alfred King of the Saxons) and on the other EXA (Exeter). It marks the point where Alfred identified Exeter, alongside Winchester, as the headquarters from which to strengthen his rule as king. Alfred's confidence in Exeter was a turning point in the city's fortunes after being virtually abandoned since Roman times. The city walls were repaired and new street grid, different from the Roman one, was laid out.
This example and one of the examples in the British Museum were found in the Cuerdale Viking Silver Hoard near Preston, Lancashire, in 1840. The Cuerdale Hoard is the largest Viking silver hoard ever discovered in Britain, containing more than 8,600 objects including jewelry, ingots, hacksilver and of course, coins. Most of the coins were from the Danelaw kingdoms in eastern England, but a number of coins were from the Kingdom of Wessex, including the two Exeter pennies.
Collection
[
|
...
]