Home / Science / Viking Shetland Yields 1000-Year-Old Anglo-Saxon Coin
Viking Shetland Yields 1000-Year-Old Anglo-Saxon Coin
10 Oct
Summary
- A 1000-year-old Anglo-Saxon coin was discovered in Scotland's Shetland Islands.
- The coin features King Ethelred the Unready, who ruled England from 978 to 1013 A.D.
- The find may shed light on ancient trade or raid routes between regions.
Archaeologists in Scotland's Shetland Islands have discovered a significant Anglo-Saxon coin dating back approximately 1,000 years. The artifact, unearthed in Nesting during an excavation focused on prehistoric sites threatened by coastal erosion, features King Ethelred the Unready. This monarch reigned over England from 978 to 1013 A.D. and again briefly from 1014 to 1016 A.D., marking him as the longest-reigning Anglo-Saxon king.
The coin, which displays a green-brown patina, was minted between 991 and 997 A.D. Its discovery in the eastern Shetland Islands, a region historically influenced by Vikings, presents intriguing possibilities. Researchers suggest the coin could indicate ancient trade connections between Viking-controlled Shetland and Anglo-Saxon England. However, the possibility that the coin was acquired during a Norse raid has not been ruled out.
This find is particularly notable as it represents the northernmost discovery of its kind in Shetland, with a previous Anglo-Saxon coin found further south at Old Scatness. The archaeological team hopes the coin will be accessioned by the Shetland Museum and Archives, potentially illuminating the area's past as a cosmopolitan community with extensive trading links during the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and medieval Norse periods.
