Glenfaba Hoard Cnut Coins
Date made: 1017-23
Description: There are 9 coins from the reign of the Anglo-Saxon king Cnut (often known as Canute). During his reign from 1016AD - 1035AD he became king not only of England, but of Denmark and Norway too. These coins date to between 1017-1023. They show a representation of the head of King Cnut wearing a crown within a quatrefoil (four-leaf design) on the obverse (head) side, facing to the left. On the reverse (tails) side, they are inscribed with the place of minting and the moneyer's (the person who made them) name. Some have tell-tale signs that were not fresh from the mint when they were buried and that they had been in circulation for some time. These signs include "pecks" which are small cuts made on the surface of the coin by the point of a knife; or bending, where the coin would be bent between the fingers and thumbs - both techniques would test the quality of the silver used to make the coin.
Materials: silver
Date found: 25 March 2003
Object name: Glenfaba Hoard
Collection: Archaeology Collection
ID number: 2004-0123/71-79