Canute Penny, Quatrefoil type, Hertford Mint, Moneyer Lifinc

Canute (1016-35), silver helmet type Penny (1024-30), Hertford Mint, Moneyer Lifinc, helmeted bust left with sceptre, legend surrounding commencing at top, CNVT R EX ANG, rev. pellet in double annulet at centre of voided short cross, broken annulet enclosing pellet in each angle, linear circles and legend surrounding, +LIFINC: ON HEORTF, weight 1.00g (SCBI -; BMC type XIV; N.787; S.1158). Lightly toned, extremely fine and a very pleasing coin with quite a full mint signature.

The legends translate as "Canute King" on obverse and on the reverse "Lifinc of Hertford."

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 five different moneyers working at Hertford in his reign through three types. On looking up this coin for a sylloge reference we can only find Lifinc plated for the quatrefoil and short cross types and not the helmet type though it would make sense that his activity would include this type which comes chronologically in between the two recorded 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.

Nearly 25 miles north of London, Hertford guards over the crossing of the River Lea with a fortress being constructed on each bank of the river by Edward the Elder in 911. Minting activity occurs from the reign of Aethelstan through to Henry I.

Provenance:

Ex Cambridge Hoard, c.1992.

Ex A. H. Baldwin, Fixed Price List, Summer 2015, item AS083.

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