King Alfred ('The Great')
2 of 913 portraits matching these criteria:
- subject matching 'Sculpture'
© National Portrait Gallery, London
King Alfred ('The Great')
by Unknown artist
silver penny, circa 887
3/4 in. (19 mm) diameter
Purchased, 1962
Primary Collection
NPG 4269
Sitterback to top
- King Alfred ('The Great') (849-899), King of the West Saxons. Sitter associated with 13 portraits.
This portraitback to top
In the Anglo-Saxon era, portraits on coins were intended as emblems of kingship rather than individual likenesses. However, they demonstrate how leaders could reinforce their claim to rule by disseminating their own image on objects that were used and exchanged on a daily basis. The ruler’s portrait also provided confidence in the legitimacy of the coinage.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 5
- Strong, Roy, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 1969, p. 2
- Williamson, David, Kings and Queens, 2010, p. 12
- Williamson, David, The National Portrait Gallery: History of the Kings and Queens of England, 1998, p. 17
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.