# Raven Penny

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The nicknamed "**Raven Penny**", is a coin of the Viking [Olaf Guthfrithson](/source/Olaf_Guthfrithson), minted during his reign as the king of [York](/source/Scandinavian_York) between 939 and 941.

## History

Anlaf Guthfrithson was a member of the [Norse-Gael](/source/Norse-Gael) [Uí Ímair](/source/U%C3%AD_%C3%8Dmair) dynasty and King of Dublin from 934 to 941. He succeeded his father, [Gofraid ua Ímair](/source/Gofraid_ua_%C3%8Dmair), who was also briefly king of [York](/source/Jorvik) in 927 following the death of his kinsman [Sitric Cáech](/source/Sitric_C%C3%A1ech), but was expelled in the same year by king Æthelstan of England.

During the short reign of Anlaf Guthfrithsson the Raven Penny was minted by [Aethelferd](/source/Aethelferd) between 939 and 941. The inscription on the Raven Penny mentions among other things “King Anlaf”.

## Legend and Images

**Obverse**

A [raven](/source/Raven) with wings displayed and the encircled legend: +ANLAF CVNVNC. The legend means “King Anlaf”.

**Reverse**

A small [cross pattée](/source/Cross_patt%C3%A9e) and the encircled legend: +EDELFERD MINETRE. The legend means “Moneyer Aethelferd”.

**Interpretation**

The legend CVNVNC on the obverse is the word [Konungr](/source/Konungr) in [Old Norse](/source/Old_Norse) written in the [Latin alphabet](/source/Latin_alphabet) minus the letter r. CVNVNC is most likely a [transliteration](/source/Transliteration) from [Younger Futhark](/source/Younger_Futhark) into 10th century Latin:[1]

ᚴᚢᚾᚢᚾᚴ

CVNVNC

This [inscription](/source/Inscription) 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 the [Norse god](/source/List_of_Germanic_deities) [Odin](/source/Odin), is a strong indication that the Vikings were declaring their independence in Ireland.[2]

## See also

- [Curmsun Disc](/source/Curmsun_Disc)
- [Raven Banner Penny](/source/Raven_Banner_Penny)
- [Cultural depictions of ravens](/source/Cultural_depictions_of_ravens)
- [Scandinavian York](/source/Scandinavian_York)
- [Runes](/source/Runes)

## References

1. DigitalCavalry. ["The Curmsun Disc | Transliteration"](http://www.thecurmsundisc.com/rune-script/transliteration/). *www.thecurmsundisc.com*. [Archived](http://web.archive.org/web/20221023182526/http://www.thecurmsundisc.com/rune-script/transliteration/) 2022-10-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-05-21.

1. Wild, Leon (2008-01-01). ["Óláfr’s Raven Coin: Old Norse myth in circulation?"](https://www.academia.edu/10827208/%C3%93l%C3%A1fr_s_Raven_Coin_Old_Norse_myth_in_circulation). *Journal of the Australian Early Medieval Association*

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Raven Penny](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_Penny) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_Penny?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.