Gold, 1.05 grams, 13.66 mm. Circa mid 7th century AD. Obverse: spiked linear hair with pellet ends, bust right with legend DREST[AT] FIT being an abbreviation for DREST[AT] FECIT. Reverse: cross on a single step with legend MAA ELINVS M for the moneyer named Maelinus. The location of the mint is Wijk-bij-Duurstede (Dorestat) in Holland. Reference: Prou Maurice, Les Monnaies Merovingiennes 1224, p. 267-68. Superb about as struck, chipped having been pierced twice for use within a Viking brooch or necklace. Found West Yorkshire, UK.

In the Early Middle Ages, Dorestad was the largest settlement of northwestern Europe. It was a large, flourishing trading place, situated where the rivers Rhine and Lek diverge southeast of Utrecht in the Netherlands near the modern town of Wijk bij Duurstede. In Roman times a Roman fortress was built there that was still in use during the existence of Dorestad. Between 600 and around 719 Dorestad was often fought over between the Frisians and the Franks. Dorestad was a North Sea trading centre between the 7th century and the middle of the 9th century, primarily handling goods from the Middle Rhineland. The place was widely known because it had a mint. Around 640, the master of the mint in Dorestad was Madelinus. Later, sceattas and Carolingian coins were minted there. Because of its success as a trading place, according to medieval Christian written sources Dorestad drew the attention of Vikings, who frequently raided the place (834, 835, 836, 837, 844, 857 and 863 AD).