Obverse:

Degenerate head resembling a bird, lines and annulet within.

Reverse:

Standard containing central pelleted annulet, saltires in corners separated by annulets.

Very fine, toned and a very rare mule. It has been suggested that there only 5 other examples known and is noted for being of considerable importance to the chronology and discontinuity of the series. The Abramson collection, contained 1 example, SCBI 69 - Number 198, which at Spink sold for £1,054 (inc. Bp.) - lot 325.

Ex C. Wood

Ex P. Finn Fixed Price List 15 - 1999 - Number 45 - £150

This coin mentioned in T. Abramson. 'Sceatta List', 1st edition, pg 187

"Wybrand OP den Velde writes (March 2011): Recently, I acquired a plumed bird sceat, with a variety G reverse. Its weight is 1.21 g, provenance unknown. The obverse is probably die-identical to Nice-Cimiez 58, the reverse is very similar, but not from the same die. Together with your coin this brings the total number of recorded plumed bird/G mules to six. Two in the Cimiez hoard, one from the Lockett collection, and P. Finn list 15-45 (very similar to your specimen)...a Series E and G connection (in intriguing). The distribution of finds of Series G Type 3a strongly suggests Quentovic as mint-place, given the relatively plentiful finds in the French coastal region. The reverse design with four crosses around a central annulet in a square standard is rather unspecific and simple. Was plumed bird variety M copied from Type 3a, or the other way around? Or is it simply coincidence? ...there are Merovingian deniers with this design. It is also possible that 3a originated in Northern France, and was copied in England."