History Coins
Viking
*NEW* Svend Estridsen (Sweyn II Estridsen), Penny, Ribe, Denmark,
AD 1047-1075
Obverse: Thre quarter front facing portrait, sceptre in right hand, legend somewhat illegible or blundered
Reverse: Triangle of pelleted arcs, central cross legend around
Size: 19mm, 0.69g
Grade:AVF, die faults and weak strike and a few peck marks
Ref: Hauberg Denmark 68
Prov: Ex Bruun Rasmussen
£450 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations ask) #1977
STAR PIECE - Hiberno-Scandinavian, Anlaf (Olaf) Guthfrithsson Raven Type Penny Fragment, 939-941
An extremely rare opportunity to add to your Viking collection. Although sadly only the middle section of this evocative coin, it is history itself! Please see the images below for a rough approximation of orientation. He was king of Dublin and Northumbria.
Obverse: A raven with wings displayed and the encircled legend: [+ANLAF CVNVNC]
Reverse: A small central cross with legend around naming moneyer
Size: 13mm at widest, 0.47g (whole coin would be about 1.15g)
Grade: Central section only, broken into two, repaired
Ref: S 1019
Will be supplied in film display box for protection.
WAS £2,500 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1285 SALE £1,900
Harold Bluetooth (Harald Blatand) Silver Half-bracteate,c958-985 RARE
Obverse: Geometric design based around a cross with trefoil terminals overlying an abstraction of a facing figure in a boat.
Note: The thiness of the silver allowed ghosting of the obverse design. Bluetooth's conversion to Christianity is clearly shown in his coinage with the cross very evident. Hedeby or Jelling are possible mints.
Size: 16mm, 0.3g
Grade: EF, good round flan, strong strike, no splits or scuffs, extremely rare
Ref: Cf C Moesgaard, King Harold's Cross Coinage p266 fig. A4.9
History note: And yes, renowned for his good communication skills, the Bluetooth name was used by the mobile phone company Ericsson!
£3,500 (Delivery FREE to all locations)
Hiberno-Scandinavian, Long Cross Hand Type, Phase III Silver Penny, Dublin Mint, Certified, 1035-1060
Obverse: Bare head and draped bust, left, no hand infront of face, blundered legends
Reverse: Long voided cross with hands in two quarters, blundered legends around
Size: 17mm, 0.98g (15.1 grains)
Grade: VF+ slightly buckled, PCGS certified AU 53 (slabbed)
Ref: S6132A, SCIBI BM125
Prov: Ex Noonan's, M J McKeever Collection of Irish Coins
£800 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1575
Svend Estridsen (Sweyn II Estridsen), Penny, Viborg, Denmark, Grim, AD 1047-1075
Obverse: Helmeted bust of Sweyn II, left, holding sceptre in front
Reverse: Long voided cross with three-crescent tips, three pellets in each corner, an interesting variant where both the mint (VIBERGA) and moneyer (GRIM) are indicated
Size: 17mm, 0.54g
Grade: AVF/VF
Ref: Hauberg Denmark #65
Prov: Ex Bruun Rasmussen
SOLD £380 #1976
Harthacnut (Hardeknud), Cut Half-Penny, Lund, Denmark, AD 1035-10425 RARE
Obverse: Helmeted bust of Harthacnut, left
Reverse: Long voided cross ending at legend, 'jelly-bean' like crescent moons in probably two quarters, although one is not visible
Size: 17mm, 0.53g
Grade: VF, cut halfpenny, good portion of portrait, peck marks, crack but stable and miniscule perforation
Ref: Hauberg Denmark 28, CJB28/85
Prov: Ex Bruun Rasmussen
SOLD £400 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations ask) #1979
Raids on British soil began in the late 8th century, the first monastery to be invaded was in 793 on Lindisfarne. The men from the North were primarily interested in gold and other precious objects; there was no point attacking ordinary folk, they had little to offer, for the moment. This changed later, as slaves and land became their intent. Skirmishes continued until 1013, then Sweyn Forkbeard returned to invade England in earnest with a large army. Aethelred, the king at the time, fearing for his life, he fled to France and Forkbeard took the throne of England. The last raid took place in 1066.
Viking, was never a term the Norsemen called themselves, it was Old Norse meaning 'adventure and trade.' It was first used in the English vocabulary in the 18th century and just meant 'a Scandinavian'.
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