Description
Cnut ‘the Great’ of the House of Knýtlinga, Anglo-Norse King of the English 1016-1035 AD, Silver Penny (1.08g, 18.50mm), Pointed helmet type, Hertford mint, Moneyer Leofric. Obverse: Draped and cuirassed bust of Cnut facing to the left, wearing pointed helmet and holding sceptre aloft which terminates in cross of four beads, annulet fasted to drapery, inner lined border and legend which begins with initial mark cross pattée surrounds, “CNVT RECX ·.·”. Reverse: Voided short cross with pellet central, each arm united by two concentric circles, pellet in each quarter, inner lined border and legend which begins with initial mark cross pattée surrounds, “LEOFRIC ON HEO”. Spink-1158; North-787. A notably scarcer mint for the issue, slight wave to flan with small point of flat strike and struck with worn dies, otherwise a noteworthy piece with a charming portrait and light olive toning through the peripheral devices, details good Very Fine to near Extremely Fine.
The Obverse legend reads “Canute Rex”, with an English translation of “King Canute / Cnut” – ‘Cnut’ is derived from the Old Norse “Knútr”. The Reverse legend reads “Leofric on Heorutford”, with an English translation of “Leofric, [moneyer] in Hertford” – the legend begins with the moneyers name followed by the mint name in Old English, ‘Herutford’, but written with the spelling of its deriving words heorot (“stag”) + ford (“ford”).