Primary sourceArtifactc. 875-880
Portrait of Alfred the Great
c. 875-880
A silver penny struck in Alfred's lifetime bearing his stylised bust and name, the only images of him made while he lived.
This coin, struck in his lifetime, is the only surviving image of Alfred made while he was alive.
About this source
What it is
This is a silver penny minted during the reign of Alfred the Great, struck around 875–880 in a London style known as the Cross-and-Lozenge type. It shows a diademed bust facing right with the legend 'ELFRE D REX' around the edge.
Why it matters
Coins like this are the only images of Alfred made during his own lifetime. They were produced and controlled by the king's authority, showing how rulers used coinage to project an image of themselves across their kingdom, long before photographs or painted portraits existed.
Look closer
- What does the stylised, formal style of the bust tell us about how kings wanted to be seen?
- Why might a coin be a useful way for a king to spread his image and name widely?
- What can't this kind of portrait tell us about what Alfred actually looked like?
This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Alfred the Great on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
More Alfred the Great sources
Meet the AI Alfred the Great →
Ready when you are
Start chatting with Alfred the Great now.
20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.