Viking Coins Unearthed Predate Home Foreign Currency Usage
posted in Archaeology |
Vikings brought home foreign currency much earlier than the previously established date, based on archaeologist reports. The coins, unearthed close to the main international airport in Sweden, are the largest early Viking coin discovery. The coins are Arabic and were buried some 1,150 years ago.
Swedish National Heritage archaeologists unearthed the 472 sliver coins while excavating a Bronze Age Tomb close to the Arland airport in Stockholm. Professor of coin studies, University of Stockholm, Kenneth Jonsson has established the date of the coins as far back as A.D.850.
This discovery contains more coins than the earlier Viking hoard unearthed, which was in 1827. It also indicates that the Vikings were engaged in overseas trade much earlier than what was thought of. The coins are of eastern origin. Most of the Viking coins are from the Middle East.
The coins discovered were minted in Arab areas such as Baghdad in Iraq and Damascus in Syria. The youngest of them dates to A.D. 840s. The oldest coin came from Persia.
These coins were probably in circulation for centuries before being buried and “were of very high quality”. The coins were probably exchanged for goods such as slaves, iron, amber and tar and were valued for their sliver content.