Early Anglo-Saxon Thrymsa

Early Anglo-Saxon Period - Gold Thyrmsas (c. A.D. 620- c. A.D. 675)
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H5010 - Early Anglo-Saxon, Kingdom of Kent, Post-Crondall types, (c.655-c.675), Gold Thrymsa, 1.24g., ‘Two emperors’ type, mint in Kent, pearl diademed cuirassed bust right; pseudo-legend around, rev., bust of angel or Victory with wings above two facing heads (emperors), circular ornament below representing the globe in the prototype (Metcalf 79-80; N.20; S.767), good gold, good style, problem free, extremely fine, very rare. $9,995 NOW $9,495 SOLD
This type was very likely struck during the reign of king Eorcenberht of Kent who according to Bede was the first English Christian king to command that pagan idols be destroyed and that Lent be observed. This coin's design was inspired by a Late Roman prototype, the 'Two Emperors' type gold Solidus was struck under the emperors Valentinian I (A.D. 364-375), Gratian (A.D. 367-383) (seen right), Magnus Maximus (A.D. 383-388) and others. The early English clearly had access to Roman coinage and many early Anglo-Saxon types are inspired by their designs. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle has the following enigmatic entry for the year A.D. 418: "Here the Romans assembled all the gold-hoards where were in Britain and hid some in the earth so that no one afterwards could find them, and took some with them into Gaul" Clearly some were found as their contents helped inspire Early Anglo-Saxon coin designs.