A woman showcases the rare gold coin.

Mostafa Al Zoubi, Gulf Today

Dix Noonan Webb auction house announced that a rare 4.82gm Anglo-Saxon gold coin minted between 802 and 839 is up for auction.

The coin, which had the title Ecgberht Rex, may be worth up to £200,000.

The house said it would be sold at an auction next September 8.

Experts said it is the only privately owned Anglo-Saxon gold coin, while eight other specimens are kept in government institutions, seven of which are in the British Museum.

Peter Preston Morley, Head of Coinage Division at the house said, “This coin was unknown and history has not mentioned anything about it.

After analysing it in June 2021, it was found it was made of high purity gold, and this composition corresponds to the composition of natural gold, which was not refined or artificially manufactured.

Morley added that gold with this purity is malleable and easy to mint but it is also more susceptible to damage.”