AS silver coin, the first English penny. Initially issued with good silver content; by the early 8c quality was deteriorating. Very debased coins, sceattas or stycas, were still being issued in Northumbria in the early 9c; by the end of that century all such coins were made of copper or brass. Some were issued by the archbishop of York. This coinage continued until 867. [< OldEngl. sceatt = money, tribute] -
Cf. Penny
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.