King Cnut Short Cross Penny London 1029-1035

Description

Header: Anglo Saxon coins – King Cnut Short Cross Penny – 1016-35

Denomination: Silver penny

Period: Late Anglo-Saxon

Date: 1029-1035

Origin: London mint, Leofwold moneyer

Condition: VF, toned, weakly struck obverse

Obverse: Diademed profile bust, looking left, with sceptre, +CNUT RECX

Reverse: Short voided cross united in the centre with an annulet. Outer circle surrounded by the legend + LEOFPOLD O LVN

Size and Weight: 18mm, 1.22g

References: Spink 1159

Features and Provenance:  Property of Kentish collector

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 invaded England with his father, a climax to a number of Viking raids. Aethelred, the English king, flees the country to France and Forkbeard takes control

However, he dies not long after and Cnut’s elder brother Harald Bluetooth becomes King of Denmark and Cnut is elected King of England. Of course, the English nobility disagrees with this and there is a period of unrest. Once fully on the throne he rules for nearly two decades

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