1,000-Year-Old Anglo-Saxon Coin Found in Scotland Depicts King Ethelred the Unready
The rare artifact, unearthed in the Shetland Islands, offers potential insights into ancient trade routes.
Archaeologists in Scotland have discovered a 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon coin minted under King Ethelred the Unready. The artifact was unearthed during an excavation in Nesting, a coastal community in the Shetland Islands.
The coin, which dates back to between 991 and 997 A.D., depicts King Ethelred, who reigned over England from 978 to 1016 A.D. and is known for his efforts to fend off Viking invasions. The coin was discovered with a thick, greenish-brown patina, though some of its original markings remain visible.
This find marks the northernmost discovery of its kind in Scotland. While another Anglo-Saxon coin was previously found at the Old Scatness archaeological site in southern Shetland, this latest discovery extends the known reach of such artifacts.
Elinor Graham, an archaeologist from the University of Aberdeen who participated in the excavation, described the coin as "extremely rare, actually unique, in this context." She noted that the writing on the coin was still sharply preserved.
Researchers suggest the coin could provide clues about ancient trade routes between Viking-controlled Shetland and Anglo-Saxon England. However, they have not ruled out the possibility that the coin was brought to Shetland as loot during a Norse raid.
The excavation initially aimed to investigate prehistoric structures threatened by coastal erosion, with the archaeological team also examining nearby Iron Age structures.
Graham expressed hope that the coin would eventually be added to the collections at the Shetland Museum and Archives. The discovery, she believes, indicates that the area may have been home to a “well-connected cosmopolitan community” with trading links to Anglo-Saxon England, reflecting the region's rich history spanning the Bronze Age, Iron Age, early medieval period, and Viking Norse period.
Scotland's Treasure Trove Unit will determine whether the artifact will be offered to a museum. Similar archaeological finds have been reported in the United Kingdom, including a nearly 1,750-year-old Roman coin found in England and a 900-year-old coin believed to be the oldest ever minted in Scotland.
