Dayna M. writes: I have recently received a coin as a gift from a friend who purchased it at auction. Neither he nor I have much knowledge of coins. My friend bought the coin on the authority of the seller, which I’m afraid I am not so willing to trust. I would greatly appreciate any information which would may be able to provide me on the coin. The coin is dull silver in color and the diameter of a dime, although thinner. The face of the coin shows the profile of a man who appears to be wearing a light helm and robes. He appears to be holding some form of scepter or plant. there is a ring of lettering around 3/4 of the front, that I can not make out. The reverse of the coin has a center circle which contains a cross with a circle at the juncture. It is an even cross with all four arms of equal length, not the type of cross used in Christianity. Out side of this inner circle are the letters PYNSIGEONLVND, which the dealer has traslated as “wynsige on London.” There is no date that I can see, and I have only been told that the seller claimed it to be “really old.” The seller has marked the coin container as “CNVT short cross penny”, and claimed it to be of Scotish origin. Thank you for any help which you can give me.
Your coin is from England in the late Anglo-Saxon Period under the Danish King, Cnut. He was proclaimed King by the Danish Fleet after their conquest of a part of England in 1014 A.D. He was repulsed by the English but returned in 1015 and 1016 and compromised (after a huge payoff) on a division and joint rule of the country with Eadmund Ironsides, the son of Aethelred of England. (There was a good reason why Aethelred is known by his nick name of “the unready”.) When Eadmund died in 1016, Cnut inherited all of England and married Emma, the widow of Aethelred. He ruled England from 1016 – 1035.
There are several varieties of Cnut silver pennies and the “short cross type” is one of the most common types found. Value depends on grade (condition). Approximate market value range is: US $65 – $200.
You should have your coin authenticated and attributed. See Grading Services on the CoinSite Links page.
