Æthelflæd 870-918, Edward the Elder 874-924

Edward the Elder was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 899 until his death in 924. He was the elder son of Alfred the Great and his wife Ealhswith. In the early 880s Æthelred, Lord of the Mercians, the ruler of western Mercia, accepted Alfred's lordship and married his daughter Æthelflæd, and around 886 Alfred adopted the new title King of the Anglo-Saxons as the ruler of all Anglo-Saxons not subject to Danish rule. Edward inherited the new title when Alfred died in 899. No coins were issued with the name of Æthelflæd on them, but in the 910s silver pennies were minted in west Mercian towns with unusual ornamental designs on the reverse & this may have reflected Æthelflæd's desire to distinguish specie issued under her control from that of her brother. This coin was likely created by Æthelflæd or by her brother to honour her, as many were found in the areas she administered. Its floral patter was certainly unusual for a Saxon King.