The erroneously nicknamed "Raven Banner Penny", is a coin of the Norse-Gael Olaf Sihtricson, minted during his reign as the king of

Jórvík Scandinavian York or Viking York () is a term used by historians for what is now Yorkshire during the period of Scandinavian domination from late 9th century until it was annexed and integrated into England after the Norman Conquest; in parti ...

between 941 and 944 AD (he later became the king of Dublin between 945-947 and 952-980 AD). The nickname stems from the coin's reverse image, which depicts a triangular

banner A banner can be a flag or another piece of cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan or another message. A flag whose design is the same as the shield in a coat of arms (but usually in a square or rectangular shape) is called a banner of arms. Also, ...

(or vane) with a series of tassels or tabs running along the outer edge, which coincides with some descriptions of the raven banner, a

viking Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9� ...

war banner only known from description. Unlike the raven banner, however, the coin's banner features a cross instead of a raven. The obverse image instead depict a triquetra.

History

Olaf Sihtricson, also called Amlaíb Cuarán (c. 927 – 981), was a 10th-century Norse-Gael who was King of Jórvík and Dublin. His

byname An epithet (, ), also a byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) commonly accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a real or fictitious person, place, or thing. It is usually literally descriptive, as in Alfred the Great, Suleima ...

, Cuarán, is usually translated as "sandal". He was the last of the

Uí Ímair The Uí Ímair (; meaning ‘''scions of Ivar’''), also known as the Ivar dynasty or Ivarids, was a Norse-Gael dynasty which ruled much of the Irish Sea region, the Kingdom of Dublin, the western coast of Scotland, including the Hebrides and ...

family to play a major part in the politics of the

British Isles The British Isles are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner Hebrides, Inner and Outer Hebr ...

. The coins of Olaf Sihtricson were minted in the early 940s.

Legend and images

The obverse image features triquetra and the encircled legend: ANLAF CVNVNC (CUNUNG), meaning "Olaf King". For the title, the Nordic word CVNVNC () has been used instead of the Latin and otherwise completely dominant REX title ("regent"). It is one of the earliest known surviving texts in

Old Norse Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...

written in the Latin alphabet. The reverse image features a

with a

cross A cross is a religious symbol consisting of two Intersection (set theory), intersecting Line (geometry), lines, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of t ...

and the encircled legend: FARMAN MONETA (Latin for

mint Mint or The Mint may refer to: Plants * Lamiaceae, the mint family ** ''Mentha'', the genus of plants commonly known as "mint" Coins and collectibles * Mint (facility), a facility for manufacturing coins * Mint condition, a state of like-new ...

), meaning "Farman moneyer". The banner was quite triangular, with a rounded outside edge on which there hung a series of tabs or tassels. The end of the banner pole featured another cross or possibly a

trefoil A trefoil () is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings, used in architecture, Pagan and Christian symbolism, among other areas. The term is also applied to other symbols with a threefold shape. A similar shape with f ...

. Banners were common war flags at the time and were used by various kings and other warlords during the 9th, 10th and 11th centuries.

References

{{reflist

External links

"Is The Viking Raven Banner REALLY On A COIN?"
The Welsh Viking YouTube channel – A researcher examines the historicity of the Raven Banner Penny. Coins Medieval currencies 10th-century artifacts Norse-Gaels Uí Ímair Viking Age in Ireland Birds on coins

History

Legend and images

See also

References

External links