Canute Penny, Quatrefoil type, Buckingham, Leofric, MS62 extremely rare, ex Bruun

Canute (1016-35),silver quatrefoil Penny (c.1017-23), Buckingham Mint, Moneyer Leofric, crowned and draped bust left within quatrefoil, legend surrounding commences at top, +CNVT REX ANGLORV, rev. pellet at centre of voided long cross, over quatrefoil with pellet cusps, legend surrounding, +LE: OFR IC M BVH, weight 0.97g (SCBI Copenhagen, 13:121 this coin cited as Bruun 37; cf Oxford early style, 'Regional die production in Cnut's Quatrefoil issue' Blackburn and Lyon; N.781; S.1157).Toned, well struck and well centred with clear readings, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as MS62 with provenance label, extremely rare mint in MS grade levels.

NGC Certification 8223259-037 - with custom provenance label and finest graded of this mint.

The Latin legends translate as "Canute King of the English" on obverse and on the reverse "Leofric of Buckingham"

North lists only two moneyers working at the Buckingham mint across the first three types of his reign with activity restarting under other moneyers for the subsequent reigns of Harold I and Harthacanute. This coin for this mint seems to have had dies supplied by the Oxford die cutting centre at its early phase according to the article cited in the cataloguing above by Blackburn and Lyon.

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^th November 1035.

Buckingham situated on the River Ouse in 17 miles north of Aylesbury and mentioned in the Burghal Hidage. Edward the Elder marched there in 914 and built forts on either side of the river. The Danes later reached the town in 1010 and ravaged it.

The legends translate as "Canute, King of the English" and "Leofric moneyer of Buckingham".

Provenance:

Ex L. E. Bruun Collection, Stacks Bowers Copenhagen, 29^th October 2025, lot 11010 and cited in the Copenhagen Sylloge.

Looking at the subscribed service of Coin Archives there only seems to be two other examples of the Buckingham Mint coins of Canute that have been transacted in the life of this resource which dates back over 25 years of auctions.