Description
Canute (1016-35), Penny, Short cross type (c.1029-35/36), London Mint, moneyer Swan, diademed bust left with lis tipped sceptre, legend surrounding, CNV T RECX. Rev, voided short cross, within linear circle and legend surrounding, reads +SPΛN ON LVNDEN, 1.11g (S.1159; N.790; BMC XVI; SCBI 14 {Copenhagen} 2926-2928).
A comprehensive example, darkly toned with impressive sharpness in the portrait and uncharacteristically clear fields. Legends legible both sides, slightly weakly struck in the western regions of obverse, reflected also on reverse, perhaps blocky or worn dies in this area. Otherwise bold very fine near extremely fine, a far rarer moneyer in Swan.
Swan likely to be an Anglicisation of Swegen, a moneyer known to strike Aethelred’s last type in London. In the SCBI 41, Dr Veronica Smart outlines the root Scandinavian name as Sveinn; appearing on coins as Spegen (Chester, Ipswich), Span (London), Svein (Nottingham) and Spegen (York).
