Description
Denomination: Silver quatrefoil penny
Period: Late Anglo Saxon/Viking
Date: AD1017-1023
Origin: London mint, Ealdred moneyer
Condition: VF, a little crimped with Viking peck marks
Obverse: Crowned profile bust, left within quatrefoil, legend around CNUT REX ANGLOR (N&G combined)
Reverse: Long voided cross with each limb terminating in three crescents over quatrefoil with a pellet at the apex of each cusp. legend around. +EALDRED LVN
Size and Weight: 19.5mm, 1.13g
References: S 1157, N 781
Features and Provenance: Ex Bruun Rasmussen sale
Cnut was born around 990, his father was Sweyn Forkbeard, the Danish prince. Little is known of his childhood and indeed the name of his mother. In a later Saga he is described as ‘exceptionally tall and strong and the handsomest of men, all except for his nose which is rather hooked’. In 1013 he invades England with his father, the climax to a number of Viking raids. Aethelred, the English king, flees the country to France and Forkbeard usurps the throne. However, Forkbeard died soon after and Cnut’s elder brother Harald Bluetooth becomes King of Denmark. Cnut is elected King of England. Quite naturally some of the English nobility disagree with this and there is a period of unrest. Once ensconced upon the throne he reigns for almost two decades and makes a pretty good job of it. The small cuts on the coin are called peck marks and are believed to have been test marks by Vikings who were suspicious of the pureness of our silver coinage, adding another layer of historical interest.
Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between
Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear
Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear
Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn
Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible
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