Description
Denomination: Silver voided short cross penny
Period: Late Anglo-Saxon/Viking
Date: 1024-1030
Origin: Stamford mint
Condition: VF+. good bold strike. mottled patina
Obverse: Profile bust wearing pointed helmet. looking left. with sceptre. +CNUT RECX
Reverse: Short voided cross. pelleted partial annulets in each quarter ending in two lines to centre. outer circle surrounded by the legend. +AEDEDSTAN MO STAN (probably Aethelstan moneyer)
Size and Weight: 18mm. 0.90g
References: Spink 1158. North 787
Features and Provenance: Ex Noonans of Mayfair. London
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 most handsome 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 upon the throne he reigns for almost two decades and makes a pretty good job of it.
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
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.