Description
Canute (1016-35), Penny, Short cross type (c.1029-35/36), Bedford Mint, moneyer Sota, diademed bust left with lis tipped sceptre, legend surrounding, CNV T RECX. Rev, voided short cross, pellet in centre, within linear circle, legend surrounding, reads +SOTA ON BEDEEO, 1.07g (S.1159; N.790; BMC XVI). Very well struck, a slight softness to the bottom of bust, pleasing portrait, underlying golden toning, reverse better, with a concise reading of mint and moneyer, a collectible mint in Bedford, with a rarer moneyer. Good very fine.
The moneyer ‘Sota’ according SCBI 28 – Cumulative index 28, Dr Veronica Smart, pp 71, only appears in the Canute short cross issue for the Bedford mint (Cn Hildebrand : H), with the SCBI vol 13, 69-70 as reference. When looking into Dr Smarts PHd thesis, Smart, Veronica (1981) ‘Moneyers of the late AngloSaxon coinage 1016-1042’ on page 170, this is also explained under Swet/Swot of Bedford, SOTA is recorded only for (CN 3), Canute type 3 – Short cross issue.