Coin of Alfred the Great (1989-58/3386)

A silver penny of Alfred the Great found at Repton, Derbyshire

A silver penny of Alfred the Great, found in the mass grave at Repton, was minted by a moneyer called Tidhelm in London. Alfred was King of Wessex from 871 to 899 and spent most of his reign fighting off Viking invasions. He won a decisive victory at the Battle of Edington in 878 which resulted in a peace with the Vikings and the creation of the Danelaw.

Minting coins was a way of controlling the means of exchange within a kingdom and which created a more easily administered standardized system of trade. Moreover, the coins themselves were often used as propaganda, portraying symbols and statements that gave off a desired message. The Vikings later used the minting of coins to legitimize their own rule.

Object Type

Coin

Date

871 — 899

Ascribed Culture

Original/Reproduction

Original

Material

Collection

Viking Objects

Current Location

Derby Museum and Art Gallery

Keywords

Anglo-Saxon, coin, Currency, Derby_Museums, Derbyshire, Economy, penny, Repton, silver, trade

Further information

You can see the original at Derby Museum and Art Gallery.

This object is related to Repton, Derbyshire.
Find out about Repton, Derbyshire.

Acknowledgements

(c) Derby Museum and Art Gallery