
Description


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
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