penny

The Anglo-Saxon penny, first struck around 790 CE, marked the beginning of English coinage proper. Influenced by Carolingian designs, these silver pennies initially weighed about 22.5 grains, equivalent to 240 to the Tower pound. The coinage, particularly under King Offa of Mercia, displayed remarkable originality in its portraiture, patterns, and lettering, setting a standard for centuries.1

Initially minted for Offa, the coins were primarily circulated in the southeast, likely at Canterbury, which became a significant mint. The system expanded, with mints established across southern England and later northward. Viking invasions around 870 CE introduced new designs of northern European origin, with York and Lincoln becoming important mints. By the 10th century, under kings like Athelstan and Edgar, coinage became more standardized, with nearly 30 mints operating by Athelstan's reign and over 70 by the time of Ethelred II.1