England Cnut, 1016–1035, Short Cross type, Oxford (Alfwold), cut halfpenny VF/VF

Make an offer

Condition note: Cut halfpenny.

Obv: TRECX+
Rev: +ALFPOL
Moneyer: Alfwold

England / Oxford Cnut the Great (1016–1035) Short Cross Type Penny – A Numismatic Treasure

Introduction
On offer is this Oxford penny of Cnut, a characterful piece for the discerning collector. It is catalogued as S.1159 N.790 and weighs 0.56 g. The Short Cross type closes the coinage of Cnut, the most powerful ruler of the northern world in his day. It would make a fine addition to a collection of medieval or regional coinage.

Description
Anglo-Saxon silver penny of Cnut the Great (1016–1035), Short Cross type, struck at Oxford. The moneyer's name in the legend reads +ALFPOL (Ælfwold, with the wynn letter). The obverse shows the diademed bust of the king to the left holding a sceptre. The reverse carries a short voided cross within the legend of moneyer and mint, the design that gives the type its name. As usual, the obverse legend gives the king's name and title, and the reverse the moneyer and the mint. As with all hammered coins, the shape of the flan and the centring give the piece its own individual character. An appealing, honest example whose characteristic design is easy to recognise.

Historical Context
Late in his reign Cnut ruled over England, Denmark and Norway and had visited Rome for the imperial coronation of Conrad II in 1027. The Short Cross type, issued c. 1029–1035/36, was the last coinage of his reign, and output remained high in the major towns. After his death in 1035 the North Sea empire quickly broke apart between his sons Harold and Harthacnut. Short Cross pennies therefore mark the end of a unique moment, when the North Sea was almost an Anglo-Danish lake. Oxford was an important mint of the Upper Thames region.

Numismatic Details
Like all English coins of the period, this is a silver penny, the only denomination struck in late Anglo-Saxon England. The reverse names the moneyer Ælfwold, written ALFPOL on the coin, together with the mint. The reference S.1159 N.790 refers to Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom and North, English Hammered Coinage. It belongs to the Short Cross issue of c. 1029–1035, the final type of the reign. It is a well-documented type and a fine representative of its series.

Cultural and Political Symbolism
The design language of these pennies drew on Rome and on the Church. Royal portraits echoed late Roman emperors and claimed a share of their dignity, and the reverse crosses turned every coin into a small statement of Christian kingship. The careful naming of mint and moneyer shows a state that trusted written records and held officials to account. To modern collectors these features make each penny an individual document of the town and the man who struck it. The sceptre in the king's hand underlines Cnut's claim to legitimate, Christian rule over his northern empire.

Conclusion
This Oxford penny of Cnut is a genuine witness to the late Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It unites history, art and money in one small object. It represents its type in a pleasing and honest way. It deserves a place in a thoughtfully assembled collection.

 Feel free to reach out with your offers; we're open to discussing prices. Don't hesitate!

All orders from Africa or Middle East will be cancelled, No shipping!

We guarantee a safe and a correct packing!

Payment options:

• Banktransfer
• Wise
• Paypal (up to 900 eur) +5%
• ₿ (bitcoin please contact) 

Customers outside the EU have to pay all import taxes (customs, VAT, etc.)

Shipping