Canute Penny, Quatrefoil type, Bath Mint, Aethelstan, with brooch below ear

Canute (1016-35), silver quatrefoil Penny (c.1017-25), Bath Mint, Moneyer Aethelstan, crowned and draped bust left within quatrefoil, extra brooch like object of pellets by ties below ear, legend surrounding commences at top, +CNVT REX ANGLORV, rev. pellet at centre of voided long cross, over quatrefoil with pellet cusps, legend surrounding, +ÆÐE STAN ON B AÐA, weight 1.06g (cf.Mack Sylloge SCBI 20:1068; BMC type VIII cf.5-6; N.781; S.1157). Well centred, toned, good very fine, we have not been able to trace the obverse die variety in the sylloge series, very rare.

The legends translate as "Canute King of the English" on obverse and on the reverse "Aethelstan of Bath."

This Quatrefoil type coin is struck of the Bath B later type style as defined by Mark Blackburn and Stewart Lyon in their article "Regional Die-Production in Cnut's Quatrefoil Issue" though no mention of the extra object is made in any of the styles die cut at Bath. 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 twelve different moneyers working at Bath 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 old Roman City of Bath some 12 miles from Bristol was rebuilt by Alfred the Great after expulsion of the Danes and was part of the Burghal Hidage. King Eadgar was coronated there in 973 and in 1013 the Danish Swein went to Bath to receive submission from the western thegns. Bath was destroyed in 1088 in a rising orchestrated by Robert de Mowbray. It later became an episcopal seat in place of Wells in 1090 and William II granted the mint to the Bishop. Minting activity occurs in the English series from the time of Edward the Elder until King Stephen.

Provenance:
Ex St Marys College Collection, Oscott, Sutton Coldfield, Morton and Eden, 28^th November 2019, lot 389.

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