Canute Penny, Helmet type, Stamford, Alfan, likely ex Cambridge Hoard

Canute (1016-35),silver helmet type Penny (1024-30), Stamford Mint, Moneyer Alfan, helmeted bust left with sceptre, legend surrounding, +.CNVT REX A, rev. pellet in double annulet at centre of voided short cross, broken annulet enclosing pellet in each angle, extra pellet in two opposing angles, linear circles and legend surrounding, +ALFAN ON STAN, weight 1.04g (SCBI -; N.787; S.1158).Toned, some light marks, a bold very fine and very rare variation with the extra pellets in two quarters and this moneyer for this type does not appear in the sylloge indexes from 1992.

The Latin legends translate as "Canute King" on obverse and on the reverse "Alfan of Stamford" listed in the sylloges as ÆLFHEAH.

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 28 different moneyers working at Stamford in his reign through four types.

Canute could have been as young as 21 when he ascended the English throne after the 28^thNovember 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^thNovember 1035.

Stamford on the River Welland in Lincolnshire some 17 miles from Peterborough where the Viking garrison surrendered to Edward the Elder in 918. The Abbot of Medeshamstede (modern Peterborough) was granted one moneyer at Stamford in reign of Eadgar and some extremely rare Edward the Martyr and Aethelred II first small cross coins with an annulet may be associated with this issue. Later one die of Henry I with an annulet on the shoulder may also be associated with this minting right. A Norman castle was built prior to 1086 and later the town fell into the hands of Empress Matilda. In an 1153 siege the town surrendered to Henry of Anjou. Minting activity first occurs here under Hiberno-Norse Anlaf Cuaran and then from King Edgar until Stephen.

Provenance:

One of the accompanying tickets states coin was purchased from Dolphin Coins on 12^th February 2006 for £170.

This coin is almost certainly from the "Cambridge Hoard" discovered circa 1992 which was never properly recorded and sold initially through Dolphin Coins. It is accompanied by one of the distinctive identification tickets from this group and is seemingly a very rare variation being of this Momeyer of this type at this mint and with the added bonus of the two opposing extra pellets on the reverse, the symbolism of which is lost to history.