The nicknamed "Raven Penny", is a coin of the VikingOlaf Guthfrithson, minted during his reign as the king ofYork between 939 and 941.
Anlaf Guthfrithson was a member of theNorse-GaelUí Ímair dynasty and King of Dublin from 934 to 941. He succeeded his father,Gofraid ua Ímair, who was also briefly king ofYork in 927 following the death of his kinsmanSitric 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 byAethelferd between 939 and 941. The inscription on the Raven Penny mentions among other things “King Anlaf”.
Obverse
Araven with wings displayed and the encircled legend: +ANLAF CVNVNC. The legend means “King Anlaf”.
Reverse
A smallcross pattée and the encircled legend: +EDELFERD MINETRE. The legend means “Moneyer Aethelferd”.
Interpretation
The legend CVNVNC on the obverse is the wordKonungr inOld Norse written in theLatin alphabet minus the letter r. CVNVNC is most likely atransliteration fromYounger Futhark into 10th century Latin:[1]
ᚴᚢᚾᚢᚾᚴ
CVNVNC
Thisinscription 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 theNorse godOdin, is a strong indication that the Vikings were declaring their independence in Ireland.[2]
