Coin, Anglo-Saxon, silver, found at Otterbourne, Hampshire, issued by Alfred, at London, 871 to 899.

Silver penny of Alfred

Anglo-Saxon, AD871-899

Found at Otterbourne, Hampshire

On his accession, Alfred, King of Wessex, found himself beset on all sides by Viking invaders and the greater part of his reign was occupied in resisting their attacks. He emerged with success and saved his kingdom and England from becoming entirely Danish. He struck coins at a number of places including London and, for the first time, a mint was established in Winchester. The most remarkable of his coins are those with the mint-name in monogram on the reverse, as in this example from the London mint. There is some evidence - see the line of the nose on the obverse - that this coin has been double-struck.