Editing Æthelstan (section)

=== Coinage ===
[[File:Athelstan 924-939 coin.jpg|thumb|Coin of ''Æthelstan Rex'', small [[cross pattée]] type, London mint, moneyer Biorneard|alt=refer to caption]]

In the 970s, Æthelstan's nephew, [[Edgar the Peaceful|King Edgar]], reformed the monetary system to give Anglo-Saxon England the most advanced currency in Europe, with a good quality silver coinage, which was uniform and abundant.{{Sfnm|1a1=Campbell|1y=2000|1pp=32–33, 181|2a1=Foot|2y=2011|2p=152}} In Æthelstan's time, however, it was far less developed, and [[Mint (coin)|minting]] was still organised regionally long after Æthelstan unified the country. The Grately code included a provision that there was to be only one [[History of the English penny (c. 600 – 1066)|coinage]] across the king's dominion. However, this is in a section that appears to be copied from a code of his father, and the list of towns with mints is confined to the south, including London and Kent, but not northern Wessex or other regions. Early in Æthelstan's reign, different styles of coin were issued in each region, but after he conquered York and received the submission of the other British kings, he issued a new coinage, known as the "circumscription cross" type. This advertised his newly exalted status with the inscription, "Rex Totius Britanniae". Examples were minted in Wessex, York, and English Mercia (in Mercia bearing the title "Rex Saxorum"), but not in East Anglia or the Danelaw.{{Sfn|Foot|2011|pp=151–155}}

In the early 930s a new coinage was issued, the "crowned bust" type, with the king shown for the first time wearing a crown with three stalks. This was eventually issued in all regions apart from Mercia, which issued coins without a ruler portrait, suggesting, in Sarah Foot's view, that any Mercian affection for a West Saxon king brought up among them quickly declined.{{Sfn|Foot|2011|pp=155–156}}