Continental Cnut Imitation

Triton XVII, Lot: 1429. Estimate $1000. Sold for $1700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. temp. Cnut. Early-mid 11th century. AR Penny (19mm, 1.50 g). Continental (Pommeranian?) imitation of Cnut’s Quatrefoil type obverse and Æthelred’s Helmet type reverse. FIDIDIDCCICI clockwise from 10 to 5 o’clock, IDICICD–FIDIDI counterclockwise from 10 to 5 o’clock, crowned and draped bust left within beaded quatrefoil / II–I IITI ICCI [...]I, voided long cross with triple-crescent ends and pellet at center; in each quarter, trefoil on pile. Cf. Malmer 939.1628 = SCBI 36 (Berlin), 1128-9 (for reverse and style); SCBI 36 (Berlin), 1060 (same dies); Spink 150, lot 1232 = Spink Numismatic Circular CIX.6 (December 2001), no. EM0041 (same dies). Near VF, toned. Very rare.

Ex Elvira Clain-Stefanelli Collection (sold previously as the ‘Demarete Collection’).

The Berlin coin originated from the 1888 Lubow hoard, an important find of Slavic imitations that was unfortunately disbursed before a complete record was made. The find contained numerous imitations of Anglo-Saxon, Danish, and German issues and was likely deposited in the late 11th century. A stylistic parallel to the present piece was also found in the Lubow hoard – an imitation with the Helmet type reverse paired with a Long Cross type obverse. That type was later published by Malmer as an unlinked imitation of Slavic/Pommeranian origin.