Canute Penny, Short Cross type, Leicester Mint, Aegelwig

Canute (1016-35), silver short cross Penny (1029-35/6), Leicester Mint, moneyer Aegelwig, diademed bust left with sceptre, legend surrounding commencing at top, CNV T: RECX AN , rev. pellet in annulet at centre of voided short cross, linear circles and legend surrounding, +ÆGELPIG ON L.EHR, weight 1.14g (SCBI 13, Copenhagen (1475); BMC type XVI; N.790; S.1159). Light tone with underlying golden lustre in the periphery, slight wear in the obverse die, reverse exceptional clarity in moneyer mint signature, somewhat off centre, extremely fine.

The legends translate as "Canute King" on obverse and on the reverse "Aegelwig of Leicester."

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. Nottingham operated with up to five moneyers in this 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.

Leicester is situated on the River Soar a tributary of the Trent some 30 miles north west of Northampton. In 737 a holy See was established and a Viking army later occupied the town circa 877 and became one of the Five Boroughs. In 918 Aethelflaed Lady of the Mercians negotiated possession without fighting with most of the local army submitting to her. In 940 the army of Anlaf Gotfredsons me the army of Eadmund here and the Archbishops of Canterbury and York arranged a treaty giving territory including Leicester to Anlaf. Later in history the body of King Richard III having been discovered under a modern car park was interred at Leicester Cathedral on the 26^thMarch 2015.

Provenance:

Ex Mark Rasmussen Numismatist, List 10, Summer 2006, item 33.