Post by Jenny on Jan 20, 2020 14:55:36 GMT -5
Permission granted by forest_blight to post his and Stercox's solution
Station XI (August 17, p. 104)
OXFORD, ENGLAND. The coin from p. 77 mentions Alfred. English mints were at Canterbury, Exeter, Gloucester, London, and Winchester. But there was also a Provincial Mint at Oxford. Treasure Hunting Magazine (June 2000) says there are a number of provincially minted pennies -- for example, the rare Oxford pennies have the mint signature OHSNAFORDA written in two lines above and below Alfred's name. The coin in story is identified by a professor (on p. 104) and when the place is visited there's no one there without a learned opinion, so Oxford seems a good bet.
p. 104. "A mint worked there in Saxon times, when it was an outpost against the Danes." Oxford was indeed an outpost against the Danes in Saxon times. See coin, p. 77. Alfred died 899 AD. From a website: "...Edward's father, King Alfred (d. AD 899), was the first to establish a system of fortified towns and he is associated with Oxford not only in legend but through a puzzling series of coins bearing his name and that of a mint called 'Orsnaforda' or 'Ohsnaforda'. Scholars are uncertain whether or not these coins were minted in Oxford, and in default of further evidence the identity of the king who founded Oxford must remain in doubt." They stay at the Blue Boar. There is a Blue Boar St. in Oxford. In addition, a Blue Boar Inn existed in the 16th century:
"The fish mongers, because they were spreading themselves towards the Carfax, were ordered in 1531 to stand only between the guild hall and the Blue Boar Inn." --The Victoria history of the County of Oxford, Volume 4: The City of Oxford. Markets and Fairs, pp 305-12.
Outside the town is a confluence of two broad streams (River Thames and River Cherwell). They leave, back to their original destination -- the Holy Isle -- which we think is in Ireland.
Station XI (August 17, p. 104)
OXFORD, ENGLAND. The coin from p. 77 mentions Alfred. English mints were at Canterbury, Exeter, Gloucester, London, and Winchester. But there was also a Provincial Mint at Oxford. Treasure Hunting Magazine (June 2000) says there are a number of provincially minted pennies -- for example, the rare Oxford pennies have the mint signature OHSNAFORDA written in two lines above and below Alfred's name. The coin in story is identified by a professor (on p. 104) and when the place is visited there's no one there without a learned opinion, so Oxford seems a good bet.
p. 104. "A mint worked there in Saxon times, when it was an outpost against the Danes." Oxford was indeed an outpost against the Danes in Saxon times. See coin, p. 77. Alfred died 899 AD. From a website: "...Edward's father, King Alfred (d. AD 899), was the first to establish a system of fortified towns and he is associated with Oxford not only in legend but through a puzzling series of coins bearing his name and that of a mint called 'Orsnaforda' or 'Ohsnaforda'. Scholars are uncertain whether or not these coins were minted in Oxford, and in default of further evidence the identity of the king who founded Oxford must remain in doubt." They stay at the Blue Boar. There is a Blue Boar St. in Oxford. In addition, a Blue Boar Inn existed in the 16th century:
"The fish mongers, because they were spreading themselves towards the Carfax, were ordered in 1531 to stand only between the guild hall and the Blue Boar Inn." --The Victoria history of the County of Oxford, Volume 4: The City of Oxford. Markets and Fairs, pp 305-12.
Outside the town is a confluence of two broad streams (River Thames and River Cherwell). They leave, back to their original destination -- the Holy Isle -- which we think is in Ireland.