 |
An "Unpublished" runic ÆPA / IOÆNA
by Mike R. Vosper.
Updated 28/5/2000
|
The above coin was purchased at The Cumberland Fair in London, 6th November 1999. At first glance it appears to be a Series C sceat, but if you look closer you will see on the reverse a cross at the bottom of the 'standard', Metcalf, in his three volumes on thrymsas and sceattas, classifies this type as a Series CZ, see Vol.1, page 113.
 |
Metcalf, on the other hand, doesn't record a specimen with runes on the reverse.
The coin can be described as follows:- Diademed bust right with runic 
= ÆPA in front of the bust, oAo behind./'Standard' with ToT, II within,
cross below forming lower section of the 'standard' and 'pole'. Down the right hand side is runic 
= IOÆNA.
And thus is an "unrecorded" type of the Series CZ sceat with runes on the reverse. The intriguing thing is, what do these runes actually mean? I am hoping that this might throw some light on the obverse reading on all Series C and R?
I have seen another specimen which I had sold some years ago, this specimen was somewhat different with runes above the 'standard' as opposed to this specimen which clearly doesn't exhibit any sign of runes there, but looks as if it might be the 'triangular' section above.
I would be
very keen to receive any 
regarding information or suggestions as to what had happened so as to throw some light on the subject.
Mike R. Vosper.
