Rare Anglo-Saxon penny on display

05 June 2007

A RARE silver penny of a legendary early English king is on display for the first time close to where it was minted 900 years ago.

The Anglo-Saxon King Cnut silver coin, which dates back from 1024-30AD, has gone on display for the first time at the Brandon Heritage Centre.

King Cnut is best known in folklore for ordering tide to retreat as a demonstration of the limits of his kingly power and was famous for his wisdom

The penny, which was minted in Thetford - the ancient capital of East Anglia - has been donated on a year's loan by Brandon man Peter Ridgwell.

Reg Silvester, town chairman and Brandon Heritage Centre trustee, said the coin, which is the size of an old six pence piece, was in “excellent” condition for its age.

“It is quite rare and in very good condition and we hope it will generate lots of interest,” he said.

The coin is on display at the museum, in George Street, with information about the history of the artefact, the Thetford mint and the people who worked there.

The heritage centre is open between 10.30am and 5pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.