Mercian Penny (Saxon), King Burgred of Mercia 852-874 AD

£1.20

This is a reproduction of a Mercian Penny (Saxon), King Burgred of Mercia 852-874 AD and is made using English Pewter.

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Description

Mercian Penny (Saxon), King Burgred of Mercia 852-874 AD


Provenance:

Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 44th edition, Spink, 2009, page 98 ref-941


We are delighted to offer for sale these close copies of the original coin.

The Coin is hand struck with our own hand cut dies, The coin is available in either lead free English Pewter or fine (925) Silver (POA)

These make a great addition to any pouch or Living history dice game, Suitable for all cultures of the period.


These coins are accepted for use within:

The Vikings (NFPS)

Regia Anglorum.

Many other Groups and Societies also accept these for use, if in doubt please check with your group/society Authenticity/Provenance Officer or refer to your kit Guides. If you would like to add your Group or Society to the above list please let us know


King Burgred of Mercia and his coin from circa 852-874. But what do we know about him?

Family.

Burgred became king of Mercia in 852, and may have been related to his predecessor Beorhtwulf. After Easter in 853, Burgred married Æthelswith, daughter of Æthelwulf, king of the West Saxons. The marriage was celebrated at the royal villa of Chippenham in Wessex.

Life.

In 853 Burgred sent messengers to Æthelwulf, king of the West Saxons, seeking his help to subjugate the Welsh, who lived between Mercia and the western sea, as they were rebelling against his rule. Immediately King Æthelwulf advanced with Burgred against the Welsh, and successfully repressed the rebellion.
Twelve years after Burgred’s success against the Welsh, in 865, the Great Heathen Army arrived. Following its successful campaigns against East Anglia and Northumbria it advanced through Mercia, arriving in Nottingham in 867. Burgred then appealed to his brothers-in-law King Æthelred of Wessex and Alfred for assistance against them. The armies of Wessex and Mercia did no serious fighting as Burgred paid them off. In 874 the march of the Vikings from Lindsey to Repton drove Burgred from his kingdom after they sacked Tamworth.
After Burgred left, the Vikings appointed a Mercian Ceolwulf to replace him, demanding oaths of loyalty to them. Burgred retired to Rome and died there. He was buried, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, “in the church of Sancta Maria, in the school of the English nation” (now Santo Spirito in Sassia) in Rome.
Single coins from the reign of Burgred continue to be found but Burgred coins within hoards are less common. In 1998 a hoard with Burgred coins was found by the Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit near Banbury Castle. In December, 2003, silver Burgred coins were found at a site in Yorkshire, which may be the first actual Viking ship burial in England proper.

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