Description
Canute (1016-35), Penny, Short cross type (c.1029-35/36), Lincoln Mint, moneyer Oslac, diademed bust left with lis tipped sceptre, legend surrounding, CNVT RE•X:. Rev, voided short cross, within linear circle and legend surrounding, reads +OSLAC ONN LIN:., 1.24g (S.1159; N.790; BMC XVI; SCBI 14 [Copenhagen, Part IIIb], 1789-801 various styles). A fully centred strike on a broad flan. Obverse struck using rusty dies, strong portrait with noticeable definition in the hair and pellet fasteners, one soft spot at 7 o’clock (also mirrored on the reverse in the OS of Oslac). Otherwise, crisp legends, free from peckmarks, bold good very fine, toned. Lesser seen abbreviation in the mint signature of Lincoln represented as Lin:.
On the moneyer Oslac, derived from root name Asleikr early and frequent in Norway, seen to a lesser extent in Danish and Swedish, recorded and seen in runic inscriptions. On coin inscriptions either presenting as Oslac or Aslac mainly appearing in Chester, Lincoln, London and Norwich mints for various rulers from Aethelstan to King Stephen. (‘Moneyers of the late Anglo-Saxon coinage 1016-35’ Dr V. J Smart, 1981)
