<p>Free-hand drawing of the Coenwulf mancus, a gold coin of the early 9th century, after a photograph at <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1593837&amp;partId=1&amp;images=true">britishmuseum.org</a><a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=115128001&amp;objectId=1593837&amp;partId=1">[1]</a>
(BM inv. nr. 2006,0204.1). 
The obverse is inscribed <i>COENVVLF REX M̄</i> (i.e. <i>Coenuulf Rex Merciae</i> or <i>Merciorum</i>, "Coenwulf King of Mercia" or "of the Mercians"), the reverse  <i>DEVICOLVNDONIAE</i> (i.e. <i>de vico Lundoniae</i>).
The coin was found 2001, in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire and was acquired by the BM in 2006. 
Weight: 4.33 g, diameter: 20 mm.
This is the only known gold coin of Coenwulf (r. 796-821), and one of only eight known British gold coins of the period 700-1250.
The coin was minted in London, and has seen little or no circulation, as it was probably lost shortly after it was issued.
</p><p>The similarity to a solidus of Charlemagne inscribed <i>vico Duristat</i> (i.e. Dorestad; <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bmimages.com/preview.asp?image=00031422001">BM nr. G3,FrGC.10</a> [Coins &amp; Medals, George III collection, French nr. 10]) has been taken to suggest that the two coins reflect a rivalry between the two kings, although it is unknown which coin has priority (Williams 2008).
</p><p>Literature:
</p>
<ul><li>Gareth Williams, <i>Early Anglo-Saxon Coins</i> (2008), 43–45.</li>
<li>John Blair, <i>Building Anglo-Saxon England</i> (2018), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.ch/books?id=qng9DwAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PA230">p. 230</a>.</li>
<li>on the Carolingian solidus: K.F. Morrison, H. Grunthal, <i>Carolingian Coinage" ,</i>Numism. Notes a. Monographs<i> 158 (1967), p. 180, n° 643; Ph. Grierson, "Money and Coinage under Charlemagne" in: </i>Karl der Grosse<i> I (1966), p. 533.</i></li></ul>
<a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:DrKay&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="User:DrKay (page does not exist)">DrKay</a>
2008-02-19
<span class="int-own-work" lang="en">Own work</span>