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Wednesday, 15th July 2009 (6248 views)

An "extremely rare" gold coin dating from the 9th century has been sold at auction in England.

According to World Coin News, the gold solidus was discovered in March in a field near Salisbury.

The coin was originally introduced by Louis the Pius in around 816 and became widely imitated across Europe, the site noted.

Only around 100 examples of these coins are thought to still exist and they mostly come from the continent. The solidus found in Salisbury is thought to be one of only two surviving specimens from Anglo-Saxon England.

It also bears similarities to three other English gold coins but its inscriptions and designs are "far better executed", World Coin News noted. Nevertheless, the solidus may have been struck in England.

The coin was sold by the auction house Spink, which was established in 1666 and specialises in coins, medals, banknotes and international postage stamps.

It went under the hammer for £9,300.

 

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