Kings of All England. Aethelred II (978-1016) Penny ND (c. 997-1003) MS62 NGC, London mint, Sibwine as moneyer, Long-Cross type, 1.77gm, S-1151, N-774. ÆÐELRED REX ΛNGLΘ (NG ligate), bear-headed, draped bust of Aethelred left / +SIB | ǷINE | M • Θ L | VND, voided long cross with each limb terminating in three crescents. Simply put, the most astonishing example of the type the cataloger has ever seen. Most certainly undergraded when considering the usual clumsiness of Aethelred's long-cross coinage, the present piece represents the perfect storm of eye-appeal and exceptional execution--every detail is fully struck-up and masterfully rendered, requiring little effort to read the legends, the whole of the piece juxtaposing electric blue accents with russet-merlot fields, and the reverse chocked full of die polish lines. An utterly phenomenal piece deserving of the fiercest of bidding.

HID99912102018