Cnut AD 1016-1035 Silver Penny Ilchester mint **Extremely Rare**

Cnut AD 1016-1035 Silver Penny, Quatrefoil type, **Extremely Rare**

Crowned bust left/Voided cross in quatrefoil

Ilchester mint / Moneyer Godwine

S1157; 18mm, 0.92g

A very pleasing example of this extremely rare West Country mint, coins from this mint are seldom offered for sale, especially so in this condition.

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’.