History Coins
Harthacnut Special
See why Harthacnut had claim to the English throne. Visit the Blog for the whole story and download this family tree for a closer look.
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Harthacnut Special
I am focussing on Harthacnut on this occasion, as a little-known king, whose reign of England lasted only a few months and at such a tempestuous time for Britain, it is amazing that anything as mundane as coinage could even have been produced, but mint it was, thereby embedding his right to the throne in English history. As king of Denmark too, his pennies from this region are also of great interest with flourishes of Danish legends, deities and also Christian symbolism.
With the amount of Viking DNA still in the British population estimated at 6%, it is no wonder that their integration and effect on our genetics is so profound. Compared to the Romans at 3% and the Norman’s negligible percentage, they really did stamp their Scandinavian characteristics upon us.
For the more detailed history visit the Blog
*NEW* Harthacnut, Sole Reign Arm & Sceptre Penny, Norwich Mint, Ringulf, AD 1040-1042
Obverse: Porfile portrait left, sceptre to left field, legend around +CNV TREX ANGL
Reverse: Central lobed star with pellets to arms, voided cross beneath, central pellet, +RINVLFONNORDP
Grade: VF, with small areas of weakness to the obverse
Size: 19mm, 1.00g
Ref: S 1169
Prov: Ex Lockdales, previously Noble Numismatic sale 2005, before that Downies sale March 1999
£1,700 (P&P FREE to all locations) #2056
*NEW* Harthacnut, Danish Portrait Penny, Lund Mint, Othinkar, AD 1040-1042
Obverse: Profile portrait left, helmeted and armoured, shield on arm, legend around +HARDECNVT
Reverse: Voided long cross with triple-crescent ends and pellet at centre, in each quarter a trefoil on pyramid, +ODDENCR ON LVD
Size: 17mm, 1.01g
Grade: VF+, a bold example with slight areas of buckling, a few peck marks on the obverse
Ref: S 1170
Prov: Ex Avalon Coins
£1,600 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1653
*NEW* Harthacnut (Hardeknud), Silver Penny, Ribe, Denmark, AD 1035-10425 VERY RARE
Obverse: Portrait type (possibly facing front)
History note: This type is rarely seen and I have only found one other example sold in 1966 during the Axel Ernst auction sold in April as lot 74 by Bruun Rasmussen.
Reverse: Triangle of pelleted arcs, central cross legend around
Size: 18mm, 0.89g
Grade: F/VF, die faults and weak strike has resulted in afair obverse, the reverse is however very good
Ref: Hauberg Denmark 49
Prov: Ex Bruun Rasmussen
£800 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations ask) #1978
*NEW* Hardeknud (Harthacnut), Silver Penny, Danish Issue, Triquetra (Triskele) Type, Roskilde Mint, Denmark, AD 1035-42, RARE
Obverse: Intervoven triquetra shape with pellet ornamentation, legend clear but somewhat blundered reading (Anglicised) IγnOrγcIIIOAD
For further discussion about this coin visit the Blog page.
Reverse: Small central cross, legend γr’CCOShγIICCO
Size: 19mm, 0.88g
Ref: Hauberg 33, S1170
Grade: AVF, with a few small cracks, peck marks, RARE
Prov: Ex Noonan's
£1,100 (P&P FREE to all locations) #988
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