5K+ Anglo Saxon coins unearthed. Vikings suspected. With help from Ethelred the Unready.

[UTUSN]

*********QUOTE********

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/uk-man-finds-hoard-anglo-saxon-coins-worth-2-million-article-1.2063798
[font size=5]British metal detectorist finds hoard of Anglo-Saxon coins worth $2 million[/font]

.... The coins are believed to be from the reigns of of Ethelred the Unready (978 - 1016) and King Canute (1016 - 1035).

Experts think the 5,251 coins, hidden in a lead box two feet underground, could have been buried after the 1066 Battle of Hastings to protect them from Norman invaders.

They are each valued at $390.

The metallic money hailed from the reigns of Ethelred the Unready (978 - 1016) and King Canute (1016 - 1035).

Granddad-of-four and dad-of-two Coleman, 59, said the find — the sale of which he will share with the landowner and metal detectorist friends — had changed his life.

And he revealed that he'd almost not gone on the Weekend Wanderers Detecting Club hunt because he couldn't afford to fill his car with gasoline.

"This find means I will never have to work again — it's a massive weight off my mind," the Southampton resident said.

The coins have since been taken to the British Museum to be identified. A coroner will rule it is treasure before bidding can be opened on the haul.

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[Douglas Carpenter]

1. "Ethelred the Unready" - imagine being stuck with that name for perpetuity

[UTUSN]

3. Seems to fit him. Or (he was "forceful") not. Call me UTUSN the Undecided.

********QUOTE*******
from Wiki:

Æthelred the Unready, or Æthelred II[1][2] (c. 968 – 23 April 1016), was King of England (978–1013 and 1014–1016). He was the son of King Edgar and Queen Ælfthryth and was only about ten years old (no more than thirteen) when his half-brother Edward was murdered. Æthelred was not personally suspected of participation, but as the murder was committed at Corfe Castle by the attendants of Ælfthryth, it made it more difficult for the new king to rally the nation against the military raids by Danes, especially as the legend of St Edward the Martyr grew.

From 991 onwards, Æthelred paid tribute, or Danegeld, to the Danish king. In 1002, Æthelred ordered a massacre of Danish settlers. In 1003, King Sweyn invaded England, and in 1013, Æthelred fled to Normandy and was replaced by Sweyn, who was also King of Denmark. Æthelred returned as king, however, after Sweyn died in 1014.

"Unready" is a mistranslation of Old English unræd (meaning bad-counsel)—a twist on his name "Æthelred", meaning noble-counsel. A better translation would be ill-advised. ....

********UNQUOTE****

[mfcorey1]

12. Much like "Good Luck Jonathan".

[tanyev]

2. LOL, I never heard of Ethelred the Unready. Sounds like a Blackadder character.

[UTUSN]

4. Plus, Mr COLEMAN as the endearingly dotty Englishman. n/t

[Recursion]

5. "Poorly advised" would be a better translation

The old English is "unraed", which means "bad counsel".

[Stonepounder]

6. Sometimes coincidences are truly weird.

We were just watching a multi-part documentary on Netflix last night about the history of the English Monarchy (called 'Monarchy' if anyone is interested). Last night we watched an episode covering Ethelred the Unready and King Canute. Today I find this OP. Very strange.

[UTUSN]

7. Coincidences? I think not. I'm a Pisces. n/t

[BrotherIvan]

11. I liked that series

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

8. Ethelred's was a Great Bar in San Luis Obispo, early 70's

I lived there 71-75, that was my 'happy hour' hangout. They had good bands for live music.

(Oh, different Ethelred...)

[kwassa]

9. but were you ready for it?

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

10. A little Danny O'Keefe on the stereo, "Steppin' our Tonight" put me in the mood.