Circa 620-640 AD, Kent (Canterbury?). Obv: profile diademed bust right with three ties and trident before. Rev: cross fourchee with blundered legend. Gold, 1.24 grams.

Very fine, small striking split at 9 o'clock and minor scuffs to cheek and eye, struck off centre, extremely rare (9th known die specimen, most in museums).

PROVENANCE:
Found near Sandwich, Kent, 2011; recorded Early Medieval Corpus and UK Finds Database Reference No. 33730.

LITERATURE:
S. 753; N. 25; Sutherland IV.ii; M (1). 21, plate 1; see EMC 2011.0206 (this coin).

FOOTNOTES:
The Crondall group comprises twelve English gold shilling (thrymsa) types represented in the famous Crondall, Hampshire, 1828 hoard (ex Lord Grantley collection and now preserved intact in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford). The 'Witmen' type is named from those with the WITMEN MONITA legend and this is usually seen blundered or in abbreviated forms. The type was almost certainly struck in Kent, possibly at Canterbury.