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The Raven Banner Penny is a coin of the Norse-Gael Olaf Sihtricson who was the king of Jórvík between 941-944 and king of Dublin between 945-947 and 952-980.
Contents
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, Cuarán, is usually translated as "sandal". He was the last of the Uí Ímair to play a major part in the politics of the British Isles. The coins of Olaf Sihtricson were minted in the early 940s.
Legend and images
The obverse has a Triquetra and the encircled legend: +ANLAF CVNVNC. The legend means “King Anlaf”.
The reverse has a raven banner and the encircled legend: +FARMAN MONET.A.. The legend means “Moneyer Farman”.
The legend CVNVNC on the obverse is the word Konungr in Old Norse written in the Latin alphabet minus the letter r. CVNVNC is most likely a transliteration from Younger Futhark into 10th century Latin:
ᚴᚢᚾᚢᚾᚴ
CVNVNC
The inscription on the Raven Banner Penny is one of the earliest known surviving texts in Old Norse in the Latin alphabet.
The Raven Banner was a flag which was used by various Viking kings and other Scandinavian rulers during the 9th, 10th and 11th centuries. The flag was quite triangular, with a rounded outside edge on which there hung a series of tabs or tassels. It is most likely that the Raven Banner was a symbol of Odin.