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The Silver Coins of England

Edward Hawkins, 1841
Sole Monarchs of England - Cnut

Table of Contents

Cnut, 1016 to 1035.

In the year 1013 Sweyne, king of Denmark, obtained possession of part of the kingdom, and AEthelraed took refuge in Normandy. Upon Sweyne's death, a few months afterwards, AEthelraed was recalled, and exercised a partial authority till his death in 1016. Cnut succeeded to the greater part of the dominions of his father Sweyne, but, to maintain his authority, was involved in an arduous contest with AEthelraed during the remainder of that prince's life, and, afterwards, with his son and successor Edmond Ironside, of whom no coins are known. Ultimately Cnut obtained possession of the whole kingdom, which he held till his death in 1035. Of Sweyne no English money is known, but the coins of Cnut are exceedingly numerous; about 340 variations of moneyers' names are known, and more places of mintage mentioned, than upon the coins of any other English king. He is generally styled Rex Anglorum, and the place of mintage as well as the moneyer's name is always mentioned. His coins are in general very light, rarely amounting to 24 gr., and sometimes scarcely exceeding 12. The types of his coins are,
  1. King's head, to left, sceptre. Rev. cross voided, within inner circle, annulet in the centre. (208). Rud. xxii. 1-5. MB. 148.
  2. Rev. tressure of four sides, with one or more pellets at the corners, upon a cross voided; within the innter circle. (209). Rud. xxiii. 22, 23, 24. MB. 7.
  3. Rev. cross voided, an annulet in the centre, PACX in the angles. (210). Rud. xxiii. 25. MB. 1. unique? Supposed to be in comemoration of the peace established in 1016 between Canute and Edmond Ironside, the eldest son and successor of AEthelraed, who had then lately died.
  4. King's head without sceptre. Rev. cross composed of four ovals issuing from a centre circle. (211). Rud. xxiii. 27. MB. 1.
  5. Small cross. Rud. xxiii. 21. HUNTER.
  6. King's head in quatrefoil, generally coroneted, sometimes filleted, very rarely a sceptre, occasionally a cross, pellet, &c. in the field. Rev. cross voided, upon large quatrefoil. (212). Rud. xxii. 6. xxiii. 7-17. xxviii. D. 38, 39, MB. 109. One angle of the quatrefoil of the Rev. terminates in a cross, upon a coin of Mr. Rashleigh's; and Mr. Thomson of Copenhagen has one without the quatrefoil on the reverse. Mr. Cuff has one with ω before the bust; a pellet in the 3rd and a cross in the 4th quarter of the reverse. Rud. D. 39.
  7. King's head mitred to the left, in one instance to the right, sceptre. Rev. cross voided, within inner circle, limbs issuing from centre circle, loops in each angle. (213). Rud. xxiii. 18-20. MB. 114.
  8. Small cross, crescent, the horns opposite each angle touching the inner circle. Rev. cross. Rud. xxiii. 26. REV. W. DYMOCK, by whom it was purchased in a lot of French coins at Trattle's sale: it is supposed to be the coin, then Rebello's, from which the plate was taken.

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