1,000-Year-Old Anglo-Saxon Coin With King 'The Unready' Unearthed in Scotland
The artifact, found during an excavation of prehistoric structures, dates to the reign of King Ethelred the Unready.
Archaeologists in Scotland have discovered a rare 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon coin bearing the likeness of King Ethelred the Unready. The coin was unearthed in Nesting, a coastal community on the eastern Shetland Islands, during an excavation initially focused on prehistoric structures threatened by coastal erosion.
The artifact, minted between 991 and 997 A.D., was discovered by archaeologist Elinor Graham of the University of Aberdeen, who was participating in the dig during her vacation. Graham noted that the inscription on the coin remained remarkably sharp, indicating its unique historical value.
King Ethelred the Unready ruled England from 978 to 1013 A.D. He is known for his struggles to defend his kingdom against Viking invasions, ultimately leading to his temporary exile by Danish King Swein Forkbeard. Ethelred later regained the throne in 1014 and ruled until his death in 1016, making him the longest-reigning Anglo-Saxon monarch.
The coin's surface is covered in a thick, greenish-brown patina, but key markings are still visible. This find marks the northernmost discovery of an Anglo-Saxon coin of its kind. A previous discovery of an Anglo-Saxon coin was made at Old Scatness, an archaeological site in southern Shetland.
Researchers are considering several possibilities for the coin's presence in Shetland, including ancient trade routes between Viking-controlled Shetland and Anglo-Saxon England, or that it was acquired during a Norse raid. The artifact's future is uncertain, pending a decision by Scotland's Treasure Trove Unit, which determines whether such finds should be offered to museums. Graham expressed hope that the coin would be added to the collection at the Shetland Museum and Archives.
Graham stated that the discovery suggests the area was once home to a "well-connected cosmopolitan community" with significant trading connections to Anglo-Saxon England. The region itself holds a rich history spanning the Bronze Age, Iron Age, early medieval period, and the Viking Norse era.
The unearthed coin joins a growing list of ancient currency discoveries across the United Kingdom. Recent finds include a nearly 1,750-year-old Roman coin found during a railway project in England and a 900-year-old coin discovered in Scotland, believed to be the oldest ever minted in the country.