Description
Denomination: Silver quatrefoil penny
Period: Late Anglo-Saxon/Viking
Date: 1017-1023
Origin: Thetford mint. Wulfmaer moneyer
Condition: VF+/EF an unusual portrait from a scarce moneyer at a provincial mint. well struck. bold and well centred
Obverse: Crowned profile bust. looking left within quatrefoil. CNUT REX ANGLO
Reverse: Long voided cross with each limb terminating in three crescents over quatrefoil with a pellet at the apex of each cusp. legend around. +DVLFMER O DEO
Size and Weight: 18mm. 0.94g
References: Spink 1157. North 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. a climax to a number of Viking raids. Aethelred. the English king. flees the country to France and Forkbeard takes over. 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 and makes a pretty good job.
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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