2017 Gold 5 Pound King Canute

King Cnut the Great, probably better known as King Canute, was King of Denmark, England, and Norway. He was born about 995 and died in 1035. Canute was King of England 1016–1035.

Although Canute was an important Anglo-Saxon King (despite being Danish) much of his history is diminished by the Norman invasion in 1066. Canute is often remembered with the story that he sat on the beach and told the sea to 'go back'; he used it to show his flattering courtiers that a King did not possess God-like powers.

To commemorate the 1000th anniversary of King Canute's ascendance to the English crown, the Royal Mint has struck a new 22 carat gold proof five pounds piece (£5).

The coin depicts King Canute on the reverse, and Queen Elizabeth II's fifth portrait on the obverse.

Only 150 pieces have been minted to celebrate England's first Viking king. With such a small mintage (One of the smallest mintages for a mainstream British gold coin), the Royal Mint completely sold out within a few days.

The coin was originally issued in Royal Mint wooden box with an external printed box and a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA).