E-Auction 39 Lot 93

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E-Auction 39 Lot 93

Anglo-Saxon. Primary Series. Circa 680-710. AR sceat. 1.12 gm. 12 mm. A diademed head right with crescent ear, within ouroboros (beaded serpent circle devouring its own tail) starting at 7 o'clock, legend around / A bird seated right on top of a cross, annulets beside, ouroboros starting at 7 o'clock. S. 777. N. 126. Metcalf 105. Good Very Fine; cabinet toning; well struck; unusual and appealing portrait.

Purchased from Spink & Son (tag).

This fascinating series of sceats portrays the melding of Anglo-Saxon Christianity and the Norse paganism brought by invaders in the late seventh through mid-eighth centuries. The serpent devouring its own tail or 'ouroboros' had in classical mythology represented infinity, in essence "the myth of the eternal return." However in wider Norse lore, the 'Jörmungandr' is a 'World Serpent' that is made by Thor to surround 'Midgard' (Earth) while grasping its own tail. Were it to let go, a great battle would ensue in which the gods would be slain and the land would burn and eventually be submerged under water. The design of these sceats, combining barbed tongue and hooked tail along with the bird (dove?), cross and annulets, suggest Christian beliefs merged with pagan fear not to invoke Ragnarök, wrath and the end of days.

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