Description and Catalogue:

Four silver pennies of Cnut (AD 1016-35), all of 'short cross' type (1029-1035/6; North 790). Ref: North 1994: 168.

Obverse: Bust left, diademed; in front, sceptre with lis head.

Reverse: Short cross, voided; in centre, an annulet.

Discussion:

The hoard contains four silver pennies of the 'Short Cross' type of Cnut, King of England (1016-35). The Short Cross type was the last substantive type of Cnut coin and was therefore issued towards the end of the reign. The coins were issued by four different moneyers and mints and therefore represent coins drawn from circulation. Unusually for a hoard north of the Humber, the mint of York is not represented, although this tends to be the dominant mint in northern finds. The size and variation within the group is consistent with the contents of a purse.

The hoard was recovered approximately 180m south-east of earlier hoard DUR-E3940D (2016-T546) which comprised nine Cnut silver pennies of the same type (short cross North 790). As such, the two hoards are likely to have been deposited at the same time and may represent a single event.

Notes:

Coins of this type routinely have a silver content far in excess of the 10% threshold stipulated by the Treasure Act (1996), and it is therefore our recommendation on the basis of age and precious metal content that these coins should be considered as Treasure under the terms of the Act.

Treasure number: 2018-T265

References:

North, J.J., 1994. English Hammered Coinage. Vol. 1,. Spink & Son, London.

Authors: Benjamin Westwood, Finds Liaison Officer for Durham, Darlington & Teesside; John Naylor, National Finds Adviser - Early Medieval and later coinage