Viking Northumbria

Cnut?, c.895-902. AR Penny, ‘Quentovic’. Small cross with each limb prolonged, pellet in each angle, ICRTIENAI, rev. small cross, +QVENTOIVICI. 1.35 g. N.524; S.1004.
Some light earthen deposits. Toned. EF. Very rare.

Purchased from Spink, NYINC December 1992. Ex SNC, November 1992 (6856), and C. E. Blunt.

This intriguing coin belongs to a small issue of Pennies and Halfpennies which appear to take the Cnut York group coins as a prototype but give the name of Quentovic, a long established mint at the mouth of the Canche river in northern France raided by Vikings in 842. The English rather than a Frankish weight standard to which they were struck suggests these coins were intended for circulation in England though just where they were made remains a matter of debate.