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The Excessively-rare mint of FROME
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The Excessively-rare mint of FROME
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OUR LIST No 124, item 131. Small Flan Penny, 1048-50, c0.7g. +BRINE ON FRO, Brithwine (Beorhtwine) of Frome. S1175,N819. Ten coins are known (according to Freeman & Dolley) of this mint, of which 2 x PACX , 1 x T-Quad, 2 x Small-Flan (including this coin), the others are of Cnut & Hathacnut. Apparently this is finer than the other Small Flan which had sold for £2,500 a few years back, Cabinet toned, centred in about GVF Sold for £3,000.00 Somerset County Museum (see extract below) |
Extract from September 2003 edition of "Treasure Hunting"
(Original extract from Somerset Standard)
TOWN'S RARE COIN IS BOUGHT FOR COMMUNITY
A rare coin minted in early Frome nearly 1,000 years ago has been saved from being snapped up by private collectors. Somerset County Museum has brought the silver penny which was minted between 1048 and 1050 and measures just 15mm in diameter. Found in Oxfordshire, the coin has been bought by the museum for £3,000 from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Resource Purchase Grant Fund. Assistant county museums officer Stephen Minnitt said: "Coin production in the Anglo-Saxon period was very different from today. There was just one coin, the silver penny and each was individually struck by hand. Instead of a single mint supplying the country's needs, there were many mints, usually located in towns. Somerset had an unusual concentration of mints including Taunton, Watchet, Ilchester, Bruton, Crewekerne, Axbridge and Milborne Port. Mints were run by local men of burgess rank whose names appear on their coins. The Frome penny carries the name of the minter Brithtwine, one of the earliest named inhabitants of the town. Brihtwine was responsible for the mint but did not personally undertake the physical work of striking coins - he would have employed somebody to do this. The Frome mint was very small scale and short-lived, operating only within the period 1029-1050."
He added: "Frome pennies are extremely rare, only a dozen or so are known. This one is especially important because it is a type not previously recorded for the mint. It is an important addition to the collection."
Cllr Paddy Macmaster, portfolio holder for culture, inclusion and access, said: "I am delighted that the county museum has been able to purchase this rare coin to add to its impressive collection. This is part of our Somerset heritage. It is important to keep treasures like this in the county."
