‘Money, Money, Money’: Ancient ‘ABBA’ Coin Set For Auction

It’s just “money, money, money” as an Anglo-Saxon coin stamped with the word “ABBA” is going under the hammer.

The rare silver piece was minted around 1,040 years before the Swedish band took to the Eurovision stage in their breakthrough.

However, it was not a visionary token celebrating the superstar group but was struck by a man called Abba.

It is one of just five ABBA coins in collections today, and was created during the 924 to 939 reign of Aethelstan – the first King of all England.

In fact, the band has bagged more number ones than the number of ABBA coins found.

It is printed with the word “ABBA moneta,” or ABBA’s money, indicating it was struck by a minter with the same name.

Anglo-Saxon money-makers printed their names on their coin to guarantee the precious metals. This one is around 95 percent silver, according to spectrographic analysis.

If they ever proved to be duds, with the incorrect proportion of metals, people could inquire with the maker.

Gregory Edmund, auctioneer at Spinks, said the coin was exactly as it should be.

He noted it was the only ABBA coin that is up for sale, rather than in a museum.

He said: “ABBA’s money is good money.

“We don’t know where ABBA was working, it was most likely one of the larger mints in the country, it could be London, it could be York, it could be Chester.

“Until we get a coin signed “ABBA money at…” we won’t know, alas.

“This is the first of a series of coins that was produced for Aethelstan, the first King of all England.

“His earliest coinage just had the moneyer’s name on it, later coinage has the signature of the money and the mint.

“This kind of coinage typically turns up in coin hoards, that may have come up in the 19th century.

“Its provenance beyond a couple of auctions ago is not well known.

“It is rare, you do not get many examples of ABBA’s signed coinage. I can think of probably four or five other coins that are known about – all of which are in museums.

“The actual name is rare, so whether it was someone who was short-lived, whether it was someone who died very soon into Athelstan’s reign and we just don’t have much of a record for them, is entirely possible.

“It’s rare.”

He said it was the only instance he was aware of where the word ABBA is printed – there are variant spellings such as “EOBA,” but they were struck around 100 years earlier.

Adding: “Whether or not ABBA and EOBA were different spellings of the name I don’t know.

“It may lack the little things, like the angel eyes of a 10th Century Royal portrait, but you cannot help by fall head over heels for this important example of the money of the first self-styled “King of the Britons”

“With fewer examples of this superbly named “super trouper” money-maker known than actual UK number ones for his musical namesake, collectors should be willing to take a chance on him when he crosses the auction block to ensure they are left the Dancing Queen.”

Mr Edmund said he doesn’t know where the coin was discovered and it was donated from a private collection and was last sold in 2016.

It is up for auction on Sept. 28 where it is expected to fetch at least £1,000 ($1,239).

Produced in association with SWNS Talker