Over 200 Viking coins found in Danish wetlands

The city of Ribe in west Jutland can not only claim to be Denmark’s oldest town, but it can now boast to be the site of one of the most interesting archaeological finds in Danish history.

Treasures in the soil [Credit: Museum of Southwest Jutland]

In a nearby bog, archaeologists have uncovered 248 coins that are believed to have been minted over 1,000 years ago – way back in the early 9th century.

The excavation, which is ongoing, is unique because only ten such coins have been found worldwide until now, according to the curator of the Museum of Southwest Jutland, Claus Feveile.

The so-called face/deer money [Credit: Museum of Southwest Jutland]

“This is an exceptional find that means a quantum leap in our understanding of minting. They are Danish coins and clearly minted for the purpose of being implemented in Ribe,” Feveile told DR Nyheder.

“This completely shifts our understanding of how we used to mint and the process of coin production.”

With the excavator, the archaeologists scrape off thin layers and the surface is thoroughly
scoured with metal detectors [Credit: Museum of Southwest Jutland]

The coins were found in an old bog area, and this has meant that the coins have been preserved to the point where they look almost freshly-minted.

The discovery will assist archaeologists in studying coin dies and learning more about the kingship behind the minting.

The coins will be on display at the Museum of Southwest Jutland from October 29 to November 4.

Source: The Copenhagen Post [October 25, 2018]