Description

• Anglo-Saxon coins were first minted in the late 5th or early 6th century AD. They were made of gold, silver, or copper, and often featured a design of a cross on the obverse and a portrait of the king on the reverse. The first Anglo-Saxon king to issue coins was Aethelberht of Kent, who ruled from 550-616 or Eadbald of Kent who ruled c. AD625. After the Norman Conquest in 1066, Anglo-Saxon coinage was replaced by that of the new rulers, much closer to the designs on the European continent. Typical names for Anglo Saxon coinage include gold "Schillings", "Thrymsas" and later silver "Sceattas" and "Pennings" which had more in common with the Viking north, and lastly copper or copper alloy "Stycas".
• Styca coins are a type of coin that was used in the Anglo-Saxon period in England minted primarily at York in pre-Viking Northumbria starting with the reigns of Aethelred, Eanred at the end of the 8th century through to around 850AD including the reigns of AethelredII, Redwulf and Osberht. Stycas were a replacement of the earlier Sceatta and were typically small in size ranging from 10-15mm and originally made of silver though later made of brass or copper alloy and finally copper only. They were circulating in significant quantities and principally used for paying taxes or for external trade. The name 'styca' comes from the Old English word for 'piece'.