An Ashdown Forest Helmet silver unit of c.50–40 BC struck by the Regini tribe of West Sussex was offered at the latest Chris Rudd auction on 15 September (lot 6). This extremely fine example, struck in good-quality silver and beautifully centred, showed all the key points, including the horned helmet, like the bronze helmet found in the Thames by Waterloo Bridge, and the little hidden face above the horse that had a ring at the end of its nose. The spokes of the wheel were all curved, creating the effect of a wheel in motion. This very rare coin, found at Lewes, East Sussex, on 23 March 2017, achieved £1,800.
SOLD FOR £1,800
A unique and unpublished coin from the reign of David I of Scotland (1124–53) that was minted in Carlisle was a highlight at Noonans Mayfair on 19 September in a sale of British, world coins and historical medals (lot 342). The coin showed acrenellations on the obverse and a cross moline, with lis in angles, along with the name of the moneyer, Erembald, on the reverse. During the Anarchy of the 12th century, when the English throne was disputed by Stephen of Blois and Matilda, David I of Scotland invaded the north of England, with Carlisle falling to the Scots in January 1136. While production of coinage continued in Stephen’s name after he was crowned in December 1135, some pennies were produced at the mint in Carlisle in the name of David that retained the familiar portrait style and reverse type. Erembald was one of the moneyers, and it is during this period that the coin offered would have been struck. Its obverse type may be to commemorate David’s fortification of his new power base in Cumbria. Its hammer price of £32,000 was double its pre-sale estimate of £15,000–£20,000
