2020-01-04 Sat

Alfred the Great was the King of Wessex from 871 to 886 and King of the Anglo Saxons 886 to 899. He prevented England from falling to the Danes and promoted learning and literacy.

Alfred had a reputation as a learned and merciful man of a gracious and level-headed nature that encouraged education, proposing that primary education be conducted in English rather than Latin. He improved the legal system, military structure and people's quality of life. He was given the epithet "the Great" during and after the Reformation in the sixteenth century. The only other king of England given this epithet is Cnut the Great.

Today on 4th January 871, Battle of Reading took place between the Danish Viking army led by Bagsecg and Halfdan Ragnarsson and the West Saxons by King Aethelred and his brother, the future King Alfred the Great. In this battle, West Saxon forces were defeated by the Danish Viking army. The above shown Penny was issued under his reign. The obverse of a coin depicts the diademed bust right. On the other hand, the reverse of a coin engraved Monogram of Londonia.

Image Source: Heritage Auctions