Canute 1016-1035AD Silver Penny Short Cross Type Dorchester mint Very Rare

Canute 1016-1035AD Silver Penny Short Cross Type, Dorchester mint, moneyer Speta. Very Rare.

S1159, 18mm, 1.17g

Diademed bust left holding sceptre./ Short cross, Dorchester mint.

A wonderful example of this rare mint, high grade and with dark old collection tone. Pedigreed to the Burstal, Carlyon Britton and Argyll collections (see tickets).

Cnut ‘The Great’ – 1016-1035

A prominent Scandinavian prince and junior member of the Danish royal house, Cnut spent much of the early 11^th 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’.