Alfred the Great
Reign 871-99 CE
Monetary System
Silver Pennies and Gold Thrymsas
40 Pence = 1 Thrymsa
Alfred the Great was born in 849 CE to King Aethelwulf of England and Osburga. He became the King of England after his brother Aethelred's death in 871 CE. Viking King Guthorm attacked Wessex in 873 CE. Alfred retreated and took refuge in the Athelney marshes in Somerset. He waged guerilla campaign against the Danes and decisively defeated them at the Battle of Eddington. As a condition of the peace treaty, Guthorm converted to Christianity and Alfred recognized the Danish control over East Anglia and parts of Mercia. Thus, England was partitioned between Anglo-Saxons and Danes. He constructed a fleet of ships to defend south coast of England from Danish attack and in so doing became known as the "Father of the English Navy".
Alfred married Ealhswith of the Gaini in 868 CE and had six children.
They were AEthelflaed, Edmund, Edward the Elder, AEfthryth, AEthelgeofu
of Shaftesbury, AEthelweard. He was a codifier of law and promoter of education
and a suppor|er of the arts. He was a scholar and translated Latin books
into the Anglo-Saxon tongue. He died in 899 CE and interred at Hyde
Abbey in Winchester, England.
Silver Penny of Alfred the Great. 871-899 CE
Mint: London. Weight: 1.5 gm.
Obverse: Effigy of the king and legend ÆLFRED REX.
Reverse: Londonia monogram, pellets in O and trefoil below.
(1.50 gm)
Reference catalogs: BMC Anglo-Saxon II-90, North 644 and Seaby 1061.
