Silver penny of Eric Bloodaxe

This silver penny was minted in York for Eirik Bloodaxe. Eirik was the last Viking king of Northumbria (AD 947-48 and 952-54), and a rather colourful figure. He was the son of Harald Finehair, who according to later tradition was the first ruler of a united kingdom of Norway. Eirik earned his nickname by murdering several of his brothers in order to secure his succession to his father’s throne. According to later sagas, Eirik was unpopular because of the cruelty of his wife Gunnhild. The people gave their support instead to Eirik's younger brother, Håkon the Good, who had been brought up in England.

Eirik fled to England, and became king of Northumbria. The centre of that kingdom was at York, which was probably the most important Viking town in England. At first, Eirik probably ruled on behalf of the West Saxon dynasty, who by this time claimed kingship over the whole of England. However, Eirik fell out with his English overlords, and also faced attacks from a rival Viking dynasty in Dublin.

Eirik spent much of his time out of Northumbria, raiding in Scotland and around the Irish Sea. He was also driven out of Northumbria at least twice, and following his death at the battle of Stainmore in 954, Northumbria was absorbed into the emerging kingdom of England.

Eirik's coins reflect his changing relationship with the Anglo-Saxon dynasty in Wessex. His early coins have his name and title around a small cross, like Anglo-Saxon coins of the time. This later coin shows a Viking sword. The sword was the symbol of St Peter, and had earlier been used on Viking coins struck at York in the name of St Peter. However, it also symbolised warfare and conquest, and may reflect Eirik’s struggles in his later years to hold Northumbria by force against his former overlords.