Description
Cnut ‘the Great’ of the House of Knýtlinga, Anglo-Norse King of the English 1016-1035 AD, Silver Penny (1.11g, 17.50mm), Short Cross Type, Stamford mint 1030-1035 AD, Moneyer Morulf. Obverse: Obverse: Diademed and draped bust of King Cnut facing to the left, annulet fastened to drapery, holding sceptre aloft which terminates in Lis, legend which begins with initial mark cross pattée surrounds, “CNVT REC˙XΛ”. Reverse: Short voided cross with pellet enclosed in circle central, inner lined border and legend which begins with initial mark cross pattée surrounds, “MORVLF ON STΛN”. Spink-1159; North-790. A charming Cnut penny struck on a broad flan, a semi scarce mint and less often seen moneyer, slight wave to flan, otherwise details 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”, with his title as King in Latin. The Reverse legend reads “Morulf on Stān”, with an English translation of “Morulf, [moneyer] in Stānford” – the legend begins with the moneyers name followed by the Old English word for the mint name, ‘Stanford’, from the Old English stān (“stone”) + ford (“ford”).