CNG 102, Lot: 1470. Estimate $500. Sold for $1600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Cnut. 1016-1035. AR Penny (18mm, 1.03 g, 10h). Contemporary imitation (?) of the Short Cross type (BMC xvi, Hild. H). Copying Norwich mint; Leofwine, moneyer. After 1029. Diademed bust left; lis-tipped scepter before / LLFOFPING ON NORÐ, voided short cross with pellet-in-annulet in center. Cf. SCBI 15 (Copenhagen), 3186-7; cf. North 790; cf. SCBC 1159. EF.

From the Dr. Andrew Wayne Collection, purchased from Spink, August 2007.

This coin exhibits a number of unusual features to suggest it is an imitation: a schematized obverse type and legend, an absent reverse initial cross, an engraver’s guidline along the reverse legend, and crudely engraved reverse letters. However, the Norwich mint issued notoriously crude pennies, with the official issues illustrated in Copenhagen showing only slightly better style than that seen on this piece.