Anglo-saxons Penny. The Raven is a coin of the Viking Olaf Guthfrithson

Description

Anlaf Guthfrithson was a member of the
Norse-Gael
Uí Ímair
dynasty and King of Dublin from 934 to 941. He succeeded his father,
Gofraid ua Ímair
, who was also briefly king of
York
in 927 following the death of his kinsman
Sitric Cáech
, but was expelled in the same year by king Æthelstan of England.
During the short reign of Anlaf Guthfrithsson the Raven Penny was minted by
Aethelferd
between 939-941. The inscription on the Raven Penny mentions among other things “King Anlaf”.
Legend and Images
[
edit
]
Obverse
A
raven
with wings displayed and the encircled legend: +ANLAF CVNVNC. The legend means “King Anlaf”.
Reverse
A small
cross pattée
and the encircled legend: +EDELFERD MINETRE. The legend means “Moneyer Aethelferd”.
Interpretation
The legend CVNVNC on the obverse is the word
Konungr
in
Old Norse
written in the
Latin alphabet
minus the letter r. CVNVNC is most likely a
transliteration
from
Younger Futhark
into 10th century Latin:
[1]
ᚴᚢᚾᚢᚾᚴ
CVNVNC
This
inscription
is the earliest known surviving texts in Old Norse in the Latin alphabet. The use of Old Norse language instead of Latin coupled with the raven image, associated with the
Norse god
Odin
, is a strong indication that the Vikings were declaring their independence in Ireland.
[2]
Sold by a lobeswy resident to me 15 years ago.