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Vikings

Craft, industry and trade

Silver penny of King Cnut

Period:
Early Medieval
Description:

Canute was crowned King of England in 1017.  Under his name the country divided into the four great earldoms of Wessex, Mercia, East Anglia and Northumbria.  The discovery of a coin of Cnut at Whithorn shows that this part of south-west Scotland was still in contact - probably through trade - with Anglo-Saxon England.

 

The obverse has the legend + CNV / TREXA (King Knut) around a helmeted bust facing left, with a sceptre in front.  The reverse has + LEOFPINEONLEI, the name of Leofwine, the moneyer at the Chester Mint where the coin was struck.

Place of Production:
Chester Mint, Chester
Materials/Media:
silver
Dimensions:
diameter 18mm, weight 1.04gm
Source:
The Whithorn Trust
Accession number:
WIWMS Whit EMCoin.64
Digital Number:
WTCO004a; WTCO004b
Copyright:
Dumfries & Galloway Council


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