Treasure of 1000 years old silver Viking coins of several rulers

A hoard of 36 silver coins dating from the 10th to 11th centuries was discovered on the Isle of Man this May. They were found on private land by friends John Crowe and David O'Hare using metal detectors. The set was declared a treasure last week. Officials thanked the detectorists, saying they appreciated their cooperation.

The hoard contains coins minted in England and Ireland between 1000 and 1065 AD. Most date from the reign of Edward the Confessor (1042 to 1066). The set also included coins minted by the English kings Æthelred II (978 to 1016) and Canute the Great (1016 to 1035). The coins are from various English mints - including York, London, Lincoln, Cambridge, Hastings, Ipswich and Exeter. Irish coins date from around 1000 to 1010. They depict King Sigtrygg Silkbeard of Dublin (989 to 1036). According to the youngest English coins, the hoard was deposited sometime before 1070.

"This is an amazing find that helps us better understand the complex economy of the Viking Age on the Isle of Man, where more silvermore sherds of the period per square kilometre than in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales combined," said Allison Fox, Curator of Archaeology for Isle of Man National Heritage.

The array of many different mints illustrates a vibrant economy and documents the routes of Viking Age traders from Ireland, through England and on to the Isle of Man. "This important hoard was probably assembled in two or more phases, with the earlier English and Irish coins being deposited together and the Edward the Confessor coins added later," said world-renowned numismatist Dr. Bornholdt Collins, who has been studying the coins all summer.

"The hoard can be likened, with a degree of exaggeration, to a wallet containing all kinds of credit cards, banknotes and coins from different countries. Similar to preparing for a trip overseas. It shows the variety of currencies available to merchants of the time. This mix presents a rare opportunity to study the details of the coins and mintmarks. Such closely dated comparative material from separate finds is very unusual," Collins added.

Under Isle of Man law it is the duty of finders to report all archaeological discoveries to Manx National Heritage officials. If artefacts fall into categories under the Treasure Act 2017, they must also be reported to the coroner for investigation. The Coroner will decide whether or not the artefact is a 'treasure'.

A valuation by a suitably qualified independent valuation body will then take place. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for paying the reward, which is shared half by the landowner and the finder, provided that quite demanding and well-defined conditions are met. The good morals of the finders are appealed for - if they waive the reward for the benefit of museums and the public interest, they will be recognised.

Roman Němec

Sources: manxradio.com, reuters,com, manxnationalheritage.im

Eudard the Confessor coins

Finders

Coins of Sigtrygg Silkbeard

detail of the coin of Canute the Great

The coins will be displayed in the museum

coins after conservation and cataloguing

some of the coins