Series E variety G5, cf. Spink 790A -

Anglo-Saxon England, Continental Series (695-740), Sceat, Series E variety G5, quilled crescent curved right, enclosing "Moon face" right, XAZA before, rev. VVILL[…] around beaded standard enclosing Y-shaped element and crozier, the attribute of Willibrodr, Bishop of Utrecht, 1.10g, 180° (SL 89-50 plate coin; Abramson, 2008, Fig. 18a; 2012b, Fig 15a; SCBI 69, 215 this coin; cf. Spink 790A).

Images and selected text reproduced by kind permission of Spink and Son Ltd, London, auction 21000, The Tony Abramson Collection of Dark Age Coinage - Part I, March 18th 2021, lot # 327.  Acquired privately from finder, February 2005 ~ Found by T Woodley at Aylesbury (Buckinghamshire) ~ [EMC 2005.0253 = BNJ Coin Register 2006, no. 94].  

This enigmatic variety is one of two known whole specimens, both in the Abramson collection. The famous collector of sceats Professor Wim de Wit suggested that this type may be associated with the Northumbrian missionary, Willibrord, first Bishop of Utrecht (695-739). His tenure parallels the coinage. He was invited to Frisia by Pepin of Herstal, fled from the pagan Radbod, but returned under the protection of Charles Martel. The type is essentially an extension of variety G of Continental Series E, showing a ‘porcupine’ styled bust with an uncertain inscription and, on the reverse, a degenerate votive standard, surrounded by a tantalising legend commencing VVILL... A specimen with the remainder of the legend is yet to surface, but in the meantime, we rely on the central motif, a crosier, Willibrord’s attribute. Moreover, propinquity strongly points to Willibrodr as the sole likely issuer – he is in the right place at the right time to mint such an issue and he has the right relationship to power.