H4353 – The Kingdom of the East Saxons, 'Female Centaur' type,
(c. A.D. 730 - c. A.D. 740), Secondary Series, Silver Sceat or
Sceatta (Penny), 1.08g., Series S, possible mint sites at Tilbury
(Essex) or Royston (Hetfordshire), winged centaur
advancing left, with large breasts, looking right, rev., four wolf
heads in a anti-clock-wise whirl (N.121: S.831), good very fine, very rare. $795
SOLD
This
uniquely East Saxon type has been associated with the joint East Saxon
rulers Saelred (c.709-746) and Swaefbert (c.715-738). It
has been suggested that the inspiration for this extremely imaginative type
can be found in the Sphinx on a silver unit of the pre-Roman king Cunobelin
(S.313: V.2057). Whatever the inspiration the die cutter was able to conjure
up a very vivid image from the early English imagination.
