Sceat - Aldfrith

Aldfrith came to the Northumbrian throne unexpectedly in 685 following the catastrophic defeat at Nechtansmere, where his half-brother Ecgfrith was killed fighting the Picts — a battle that effectively ended Northumbrian expansion north of the Forth. Aldfrith was a scholar-king, reputedly fluent in Irish and credited with owning a copy of Bede's cosmographical text, exchanged for eight hides of land. His reign stabilized a kingdom in shock.

Northumbrian sceats of this period show considerable die variation and are frequently found in poor metal, the silver already beginning the gradual debasement that would accelerate under his successors.