Description
Cnut ‘the Great’ of the House of Knýtlinga, Anglo-Norse King of the English 1016-1035 AD, Silver Penny (0.99g, 18mm), Pointed helmet type, London mint, Moneyer Bruninc. 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 Λ”. 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, “BRVNINC ON LVNД. Spink-1158; North-787. Evenly worn and fully struck on flan, minor rust to die, otherwise a nice example, Very Fine to good Very Fine.
The Obverse legend reads “Canute Rex Anglorum”, with an English translation of “Canute / Cnut, King of the Englishmen” – ‘Cnut’ is derived from the Old Norse “Knútr”, with his titulature in Latin. The Reverse legend reads “Bruninc on Lunden”, with an English translation of “Bruninc, [moneyer] in London” – the legend begins with the moneyers name followed by Old English word for the mint name, ‘Lunden’, from Latin ‘Londinium’, likely derived from Proto-Celtic ‘Londinyom’ (“place that floods”).
