King Cnut Penny Pointed Helmet Type London 1024-1030

Description

Heading: King Cnut penny 1024-1030

Denomination: Silver pointed helmet type penny

Period: Late Anglo Saxon/Viking

Date: AD1024-1030

Origin: London mint, Wynsige moneyer

Condition: EF, good flan and well centred, bold strike, slight wrinkling and Viking peck marks to cheek

Obverse: Profile bust wearing pointed helmet, left, with sceptre, legend around +CNUT RECX AN

Reverse: Short voided cross, united in the centre with an annulet, annulets in each quarter, outer circle surrounded by the legend +PYNSIGE ON LVNDE

Size and Weight: 18mm, 1.02g

References: S 1158, N 781

Features and Provenance: 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 by all accounts.

Numismatic note: Peck marks are test cuts that were made (probably by invaders) to check the coins were silver all the way through. They are a very real link to the past and give an insight into their mindset.

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