Canute Penny, Pointed Helmet type, Gloucester Mint, Moneyer Godric

Canute (1016-35),silver helmet type Penny (1024-30), Gloucester Mint, Moneyer Godric, helmeted bust left with sceptre, legend surrounding commencing at top, CNV T RECX:, the V with a pellet base,rev.pellet in double annulet at centre of voided short cross, broken annulet enclosing pellet in each angle, linear circles and legend surrounding, +GODRIC ON GL.EP, weight 1.05g (SCBI Copenhagen 13:1022; BMC type XIV 224; N.787; S.1158).Toned, good very fine.

The legends translate as "Canute King " on obverse and on the reverse "Godric of Gloucester."

Despite Canute being essentially a Viking King from overseas, the coinages of England continued in a similar vein to those of Aethelred II, in that the types changed every six years, meaning there are three main types for this reign, of which the quatrefoil type was the first. According to North there were up to 74 mints in operation with perhaps four other enigmatic places that remain uncertain. North records ten different moneyers working at Gloucester in his reign through four types.

Canute could have been as young as 21 when he ascended the English throne after the 28^th November 1016 upon the death of Edmund "Ironside" at Oxford. Though Edmund son of Aethelred II had a younger brother and two infant sons his advisers recognized Canute as successor. Though his birth date is not known, Canute was a commander in his Father's army from 1012, and at first had to settle a number of uprisings amongst the nobility and others, which he quelled by maintaining a large army and navy from heavy taxation. He kept Wessex at first for himself whilst dividing up other areas for regional government under trusted Danish allies. Canute had married Aelfgifu daughter of Ealdorman Aelfhelm of Northumbria, but set her aside to marry Aethelred's widow Emma in 1017 who had fled to Normandy, and this latter union helped maintain the political continuity and tradition of English Kingship. Harald of Denmark died childless in 1018 and Canute used his English troops and finance to extend power to Scandanvia making his infant son Harthacanute titular Governor and heir of Denmark. Canute attempted to invade Sweden, and actually took Norway in 1028 having had a pilgrimage to Rome the year before. Canute left his eldest son by Aelfgifu, Swein to rule Norway and was now the most powerful King of England ever at this time and is likely when the apocryphal story of him trying to vainly order the coastal tide to turn and retreat in front of his courtiers emerged. However, Norway was lost by 1034, Canute did not respond, and he passed away suddenly at Shaftesbury in his mid-forties on the 12^th November 1035.

The City of Gloucester on the River Severn is 37 miles north north east of Bristol and in 877 the army of Guthrum moved there and the town was ravaged several times through the 10^th century. Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians (died 918) is buried here and King Aethelstan dies here at his palace in 940. The present cathedral was founded in 1089 and later the city was destroyed by fire in 1101 in the reign of Henry I.In King Stephen's reign Gloucester became an Angevin stronghold for Earl Robert and interestingly Stephen's cousin Matilda, received him at Gloucester as her prisoner before sending him on to Bristol in 1141. Minting activity occurs from the reign of Alfred the Great until Henry III.

Provenance:

Purchased from A. H. Baldwin January 2020, ex vault stock.

Ex Collection of an English Doctor part II, Sovereign Rarities fixed price list online May 2022.