Important Group of Early Hiberno-Norse // With Title Sihtric Cununc

CNG 85, Lot: 1550. Estimate $7500. Sold for $7000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

IRELAND, Hiberno-Norse. Phase I (Sihtric Anlafsson). Circa 995/7-1020. AR Penny (19mm, 1.61 g, 10h). Imitating Æthelred II Long Cross type. “Winchester” (Dublin) mint; “Godwine,” moneyer. Struck circa 1000-1010. + SIHTRIC • CVNV(NG) DУFL, draped bust left; pellet behind neck / + GODPIИE ΠIO PIИT, voided long cross with pellet in center and triple crescent ends. SCBI 8 (BM), 28 = Lockett 495(B) (same dies); O’S -; D&F 7; SCBC 6105. Good VF, toned. Extremely rare.

From the Marie Karlsson Collection.

On this extremely rare issue, Sihtric adopts the Old Norse ‘cununc’ rather than the Latin ‘rex’ for ‘king.’