DENMARK. Harthacnut. 1035-1042 AD. AR Penny (0.97 gm). Lund mint. HARDACNVT RX, coiled serpent with pellets entwined in its body / DORCETL ON LVN, curvilinnear cross or shield quartered w/ pellets. Hauberg 1. Toned EF. Rare. $975.
CNR XXVII, June 2002, lot 97.
This coin features a serpent or dragon. The most likely portent of this emblem is that of the Jorgandmunder, midgard's (the world's) serpent. The midgard serpent was a giant mythological creature of great evil power who lurked in the sea. It was said that in the age of Ragnarok, the Germanic Apocalypse, this serpent would devour Thor. Odin gained this knowledge when he gained a foreknowledge of the destruction of all the gods. Thor, wisely trying to escape this fate, went fishing with a giant and tried to catch the Jorgandmunder, nearly suceeding. Unfortunately, the gods not slain by the world-serpent would be devoured by the Fenris-wolf in the time of Ragnarok. This event however, was perhaps less detrimental to the old gods than the adoption of Christianity by Harald Bluetooth, which did its best in the first three hundred years to erase any memory of the gods. The fact that Denmark was technically Christian does not preclude a legendary beast from appearing on a coin of Harthacnut, and the serpents or dragons continued to be a favored motif on shipheads and also Norwegian stave churches.
In Danish Coins from the 11th Century, Jensen suggests that all coins of this issue were actually struck before 1030 AD, while Cnut was still living. This is backed by the fact that the issue exists with legends for Cnut, Harthacnut, and also some illegible inscriptions. Erslev initially propounded this theory in 1875. Further reinforcement comes from a noticeable change in Danish coinage at about 1030, where the original Anglo-Saxon designs were discontinued and national symbols were more consistently favored. A document which appears to date to about 1026 states that the Danish nobles rebelled against Cnut for his English-dominated government and caused Harthacnut to be instated as co-regent with his father. The standardization of money attests to a greater centralization of power at this time.
Harthacnut was Cnut's legitimate son with Emma, while Harold I (of England) was the illegitimate son of Ælgifu of Northhampton. Harold was elected regent due to the absence of the legitimate heir to the English throne, King Harthacnut of Denmark. In 1037, while Harthacnut was still occupied with matters in Denmark, Harold took the throne. Following a brief joint reign, Harold I died and Harthacnut regained the throne briefly. He died in 1042 while drinking at a wedding feast. When Harthacnut died, there was no one able to rule all of the 'Anglo-Danish' empire so Edward the Confessor came to power in England. This marked the fall of the Viking domination of England from foreign thrones, although a couple subsequent attempts to reinvade failed in the later 11th Century.
