Cnut AD 1016-1035 Silver Penny Short Cross Type York mint Bearded bust *Extremely Rare*

Cnut AD 1016-1035 Silver Penny Short Cross Type

Bearded bust

Extremely Rare

York/ Thurgrim

S1159; 17mm, 0.99g

An extraordinary portrait, beard detail appears to be die struck. Pleasing old collection tone.

ex CNG 64 (2003) lot 1619.

Cnut ‘The Great’ – 1016-1035: A prominent Scandinavian prince and junior member of the Danish royal house, Cnut spent much of the early 11th century as an active participant on raids directed at England. In 1013, his father Swein Forkbeard invaded England and became its king by dint of conquest – though died shortly afterwards. Cnut was forced to retreat back to Denmark, but returned to England in 1015. Defeating the English at Assandun in 1016 and forcing a settlement, Cnut eventually succeeded to the throne of all England. An outwardly pious man, he gave generously to religious houses during his reign and went on pilgrimage to Rome – despite being a murderous bigamist. During his near twenty-year long rule, he came to unite England, Denmark, Norway and part of Sweden into the powerful but short-lived ‘North Sea Empire’.