Series QII -

Anglo-Saxon England, Secondary Series (710-760), Sceat, Series QII, longlegged quadruped left, looking back, beak open, crest above, bifurcated tail with finial ends, each loop enclosing a pellet, pellets in field, rev. Sea bird left, feet splayed, forked tail, wings curved before and above, cross pommée before, pellets in field, 1.04g, 180° (SL 64-30 plate coin; SCBI 69, 629 this coin; T&S pp. 492- 5. Gannon 113, 116-7, 154-6, 191-2, and Figs. 4.7c, 4.64b; MEC 8 Series Qb; North –; Spink 809).

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 #263.   Provenance: Lockdales, 10 July 2011, lot 368.

This extremely rare, possibly unique, variation of Series QII has a beast on the obverse which appears to be struggling into a strong headwind. The feathers on the bird on the reverse are also ruffled. Both have unusually bifurcated tails.