The remarkable story of Exeter and one of the world’s rarest coins

The fascinating story of Exeter’s role in the striking of a rare coin is the subject of a special lecture later this month.

It’s the Alfred the Great penny, dating back to the late ninth century. The coin is highly prized by collectors and historians, and is regarded a key artefact of Anglo-Saxon England.

There’s also a fascinating Exeter connection. It is the rarest and earliest coin minted in Exeter, starting a tradition that continued into the 17th century.

The coin was struck shortly after Alfred defeated the Vikings at the gates of Exeter. 

It’s the earliest object to bear the name of Exeter and identifies the city as one of the two key strategic centres Alfred used to strengthen his rule, sparking the revival of the city over 1,100 years ago.

Only three of these coins are known about, making it one of the rarest in the world.

Two are in the British Museum but the other - previously held by an American collector - has now been purchased at a Swiss auction by Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum. This means it’s returned to our city for good.

And RAMM’s assistant curator, Tom Cadbury, is explaining the story of the Alfred the Great penny in a special lecture in Topsham later this month.

It’s on Thursday September 17 at 11am, as part of Topsham’s Museum’s lecture series. Doors open at 10.30am and admission is £6 on the door.