Calling on Anglo Saxon coin enthusiasts and experts in CT to please give me their opinions on this penny. I have had it for a while, and it was described as a penny of Cnut, possibly London mint. I know that the portrait looks a bit funny (with a disproportionate nose) and the legend is quite softly impressed and weak. I should be thankful for your opinions, including opinions on its authenticity. Thanks!
I could be wrong but it looks to me like that is a visor of some sort hanging over his forehead, and his nose is normal size right above his lips. Nice coin though!
A Quatrefoil Penny. I am unable to make anything from the legends at the moment. I will try and get my books out to see if I can find anything. This was one of mine:- Obv:- CNVT REX ANGLORVM, Crowned bust left within quatrefoil Rev:- CNIHT MO GRAI, Quatrefoil with pellet at apex of each cusp, long cross voided, each limb terminating in three crescents Minted in Cambridge (GRAI) by moneyer Cnit (CNIHT) A.D. 1017-1023 Reference:- North 781 Regards, Martin
Ummm, when compared against Martin's example, it looks a bit wonky? (ummm, but everybody's coins look a bit wonky when they're placed beside Martin's coins, so maybe it's merely an illusion?) => Eduard, I sure hope that your coin ends-up being a total winner!! (but as per usual, I gots nuthin' really constructive to add)
Looking at google images of other coins of this type, I suspect it is genuine. Nothing unusual or out of sorts in my opinion. I have asked Paddy to comment, he is a Saxon penny guy.
i'm no expert, but it looks ok to me. pretty darn cool coin ed. there's a picture of this coin, or one very similar, on the wikipedia page for mr cnut. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cnut_the_Great
Probably never going to get this one completely nailed down. Certainly Cnut "Quatrefoil" Penny. Bust is probably London style, but this could mean any number of Mints - mostly across the South of England. There are over 60 different Mints identified for Cnut coins, and even this list might not be exhaustive! The real answer would come if you could decipher the lettering on the reverse. I think I can make out "ILL" in one quarter, but that may be part of the Mint name or the moneyer, so unless you can make out most of the rest, it will be difficult to go further.
Well thanks you all very much for your opinions. I guess Paddy is right - it will be difficult to pin this one down definitely. I guess I would be happy knowing it is not a fake, that it is a penny of the quatrefoil type, and that that huge proboscis is in fact a helmet visor. Very nice coins, Martin and Paddy!
