Series S, type 47. -

Anglo-Saxon England, Secondary Series (710-760), Sceat, Series S, type 47, stiff-legged female centaur left, torso forward, looking back, spiky hair, holding palm fronds either side, beaded tail with finial end right, under wing, rev. Wolfwhorl clockwise with elongated tongues joining in beaded spiral cross; central rosette, 0.84g (SL 68-80 plate coin; T&S pp. 537-44, 438-41; Gannon 141, 142, no. 240, 151-4, 185, no. 30, and Figs. 4.49b, 4.62; MEC 8 Series Sa; North 121; Spink 814).

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 #288. Provenance: J Philpotts, March 2017 ~ Found at Ewelme (Oxfordshire)

The main distinguishing feature in Series S is the composition of the tail on the obverse – beaded or linear - and the type of finial. However, the rare variety 68-80 has a rosette as central device on the reverse and the rotating beaded cross composed of the wolves’ tongues is absent, making for a pleasingly uncluttered design.