Cnut Penny, Pointed Helmet type, Bridport Mint, moneyer Alwold

Canute (1016-35), silver Penny, pointed helmet type (1024-30), Bridport Mint, Moneyer Aelfweald, helmeted bust left with sceptre, legend surrounding commencing at top, CNVT R.EXAN:, rev. pellet in double annulet at centre of voided short cross, broken annulet enclosing pellet in each angle, linear circles and legend surrounding, +ALPOLD : ON : BRYDI:, weight 1.08g (SCBI 13 [Copenhagen], 119; N.787; S.1158). Lightly toned, marginally undulating flan, a bolder very fine, very rare.

Canute the second son of Swein, returned to attack in 1015 and by early 1016 was marching on Mercia, Aethelred however passed away on 23rdApril 1016 in London at around the age of 52 just as his second son Edmund was moving south to link up with the army. Edmund was elected King, but the army was his priority, and after winning a few battles suffered a defeat at Ashingdon on 18thOctober 1016. He retreated possibly wounded to West Mercia and negotiated a treaty giving him rule of Wessex. However, Edmund died in Oxford on the 30thNovember 1016 giving control to Canute.

The fishing port of Bridport in Dorset some 15 miles west of Dorchester first operates as a mint at the time of Aethelstan with a break until the reign of Aethelred II and then runs through to William I including a unique piece of Harold II. The mint only has three moneyers in this reign and may also be connected to the mint signature BREDY which is an old burgh mentioned in the Burghal Hidage.

The legends translate as "Canute King" on obverse and on the reverse as Aelfweald of Bridport "

Provenance:

Ex B. J. Dawson, Bolton, by private treaty, 1997 - £900

Ex Dr. William J. Conte, Part II, CNG Auction 60, 22nd May 2002, lot 2217

Ex Spink Auction, 4th May 2022, lot 19, also sold earlier in the year in the same auction rooms.