The erroneously nicknamed "Raven Banner Penny", is a coin of the Norse-Gael Olaf Sihtricson, minted during his reign as the king of Jórvík between 941-944 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 (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 war banner only known from description. Unlike the raven banner, however, the coin's banner features a cross instead of a raven.[1] The obverse image instead depict a triquetra.[1]
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.
The obverse image features triquetra and the encircled legend: ANLAF CVNVNC (CUNUNG), meaning "Olaf King". For the title, the Nordic word CVNVNC (Old Norse: ᚴᚢᚾᚢᚾᚴ, kunung) has been used instead of the Latin and otherwise completely dominant REX title (Regent).[2] It is one of the earliest known surviving texts in Old Norse written in the Latin alphabet.[citation needed]
The reverse image features a banner with a cross[1] and the encircled legend: FARMAN MONETA (latin for mint), meaning "Farman moneyer".[3] 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.[1]
Banners were common war flags at the time and were used by various kings and other warlords during the 9th, 10th and 11th centuries.[1]
På hans efterfølger, fætteren Anlaf Sihtricssons mønter ses en militærstandart og et triquetrasymbol (se Arbejdsmarken 1977). Medens vikingerne tidligere havde et ravnebanner, har denne standart et kors i dugen og nok et på stangen.