A genuine Anglo-Saxon silver penny of King Cnut (Canute the Great), struck at the London mint by the moneyer Bruninc during the early 11th century, circa AD 1017–1023.
This attractive and historically important Viking Age issue is identified as the Pointed Helmet type (Spink 1158 / North 787), featuring a sharply detailed crowned and helmeted bust of Cnut holding sceptre, with the classic voided short cross reverse and surrounding moneyer inscription reading BRVNINC ON LVND.
The coin displays excellent eye appeal for the type, with unusually strong surviving portrait detail, pleasing old cabinet toning, and a particularly well-centred reverse. The obverse portrait retains strong facial definition and bold Viking-era character rarely seen so clearly on hammered silver of this period.
These pennies circulated during the reign of Cnut the Great, ruler of England, Denmark, and Norway, at the height of Scandinavian power in early medieval England over 1,000 years ago.
DETAILS:
• Ruler: Cnut / Canute the Great (AD 1016–1035)
• Denomination: Silver Penny
• Type: Pointed Helmet
• Spink: S.1158
• North: 787
• Mint: London
• Moneyer: Bruninc
• Date: c. AD 1017–1023
• Composition: Silver
• Weight: 0.98 grams
• Diameter: 18.1mm
• Hammered Anglo-Saxon coinage
• Viking Age England
CONDITION:
A highly attractive example with strong overall detail, readable legends, excellent reverse geometry, and pleasing original silver tone. Minor irregularities and circulation wear consistent with hammered coinage of the period.
An exceptional collector piece from the Viking era and a fantastic addition to any Anglo-Saxon, Viking, or early medieval coin collection.
Please study photographs carefully for overall condition and attribution.