United Kingdom: The 1,150th anniversary of accession of King Alfred the Great features on new crown coins

Hover to zoom.

The Royal Mint has released (22nd April) new gold and silver crown coins to mark 1,150 years since the accession and crowning of perhaps one of England’s most influential kings, who is recognised in history for setting a course of greatness for his realm. King Alfred, later known as “the Great,” (c.849-899) was king of the West Saxons. He was not expected to succeed to the throne as he had three older brothers and was the youngest of the six known children of Aethelwulf, king of the West Saxons, who reigned from 839 to 858. After his father’s death, Alfred’s three elder brothers all ruled in turn, though all dying on the throne and without leaving issue. Aethelbald ruled from 855 to 860, Aethelberht ruled from 860 to 865, and Aethelred ruled from 865 until 871. Upon the death of his last elder brother, Alfred became king.

The reign of King Alfred is remembered for many reasons, most especially for his ability to both defend and further his realm in terms of territory and giving greater meaning to Anglia. Almost immediately from having become king, Alfred faced down repeated Viking invasions but prevailed significantly when he forced his enemies to sign a treaty of peace known as Wedmore in 878. In an effort to secure this peace and increase territory, King Alfred began the task of building fortress towns and brought in militia loyal to the crown as well as strengthening military skill by arming local soldiers. King Alfred is also considered the first English monarch to build the country’s first navy. Of specific interest to numismatists, the coins of Alfred’s reign were one of the first to state exactly where the coin was minted, notably in London, and are regarded as particularly significant in the history of the Royal Mint.

His unifying reign demonstrated far-sighted reform, piety, and wisdom, which historians believe built the foundations for the modern monarchy of today. Alfred’s reign is most remarkable for the flourishing of learning that is associated with it. Several works were translated from Latin into Old English around this period, and some translations were even credited to the king himself. Alfred was aware that many churches, before their ransacking, possessed great treasures of books, many of course written in Latin. To combat the decline in learning, King Alfred ruled that these works be translated into “the language that we can all understand and certain books which are the most necessary for all men to know.” To further this royal request, an English translation of a work on leadership by Pope Gregory the Great (d.604) was sent to different centres, one was curiously accompanied with “a pointer worth 50 gold coins.”

The Pointer is Unearthed — A Chance Find

Known as “The Alfred Jewel,” it is a masterpiece of the goldsmith’s work of this era, steeped in history as the name of the monarch placed around the object makes it among the most precious of royal relics. The ornament, about two-and-a-half inches (or 6.4 centremetres) long is in the form of a tear-drop shape and crafted with a gold filigree frame with an ornate edge. The intricately detailed letters create the inscription “AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN” (“Alfred ordered me to be made”). The frame surrounds a highly polished piece of quartz decorated with a pattern formed by pieces of enamel in various colours and separated by strips of flattened gold wire, this technique is known as “cloisonné.” The image depicts the figure of a man with wide eyes, long locks of hair and with his two arms carrying stems flowering from a bulb. The jewel terminates in a stylised animal head, its jaws containing a rivet. The figure depicted is believed to be that of Alfred, if not perhaps a saint, and has been suggested the ornament was designed as an aestel — a pointer used for following written text. The world may never have known about, or seen this jewel again, had it not been ploughed up in a field by chance in Somerset in the year 1691. The land, known as “Parker’s Field,” was owned by Sir Thomas Wroth and over time, the ornament came into the possession of Sir Thomas’s guardian and uncle, Colonel Nathaniel Palmer. In 1715, Colonel Palmer willed the jewel to Oxford University which later became part of the collection at the Ashmolean Museum, where it is permanently housed today. History remembers King Alfred as having been one of the great rulers in English history and the only English ruler to be called “Great” — thus far.

Inspired by the craftsmanship represented as the pinnacle of Anglo-Saxon technological achievement, the reverse side of the coins features a design seen on the Alfred Jewel. Experienced coin and medal artist, John Bergdahl, has created an original interpretation that features a portrait of King Alfred which has been replicated from the image shown on the Alfred Jewel. Aside from this spectacular ornament, Bergdhal took his inspiration from the original Monogram Penny of Alfred the Great and used punch lettering in his design to reflect the style of the period. Above the primary design is the inscription ALFRED THE GREAT 871, with the year of issue 2021 placed below. On the coin’s edge, there is the inscription AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN, which translates to “Alfred ordered me to be made,” taken from the lettering found on the Jewel.

The obverse bears the fifth definitive effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II designed by engraver Jody Clark and seen on all British circulation and commemorative coinage since 2015. The denomination 5 POUNDS is part of the legend encircling the Queen’s likeness.

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Maximum Mintage
Five pounds	Cupro-nickel	28.2 g	38.6 mm	Brilliant Unc.	Unlimited
Five pounds	.925 Silver	28.2 g	38.6 mm	Proof	2,260
Five pounds	.925 Silver	56.5 g	38.6 mm	Proof	910
Five pounds	.9167 Gold	39.94 g	38.6 mm	Proof	170

The launch of the new commemorative coin comes just weeks after the Royal Mint’s Collector Services Division sold an original Alfred The Great silver monogram penny (871-899) for the sum of £18,700.

The Brilliant Uncirculated cupro-nickel coins are presented in a blister-pak type folder with illustrations and informative text about King Alfred and the 1,150th anniversary of his accession to the English throne.

The silver single and Piedfort Proof strikes are encapsulated and presented in a black branded custom case, accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity.

The gold Proof pieces are encapsulated and presented in a gloss-polished hardwood custom case, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. For additional information about these coins and other coins available from the Royal Mint, please visit their website.

❑