The silver coins feature images of rulers like Edward the Confessor and Canute, the Viking king who united England, Denmark, and Norway under the North Sea Empire.
Manx National HeritageDavid O’Hare (left) and John Crowe (right), the men who found the coins, and Allison Fox, the Curator for Archaeology at Manx National Heritage, pictured with the treasure.
Two metal detectorists recently uncovered a hoard of 36 Viking coins on Britain’s Isle of Man. Now, experts have dated the artifacts to between 1000 and 1065 C.E. and officially declared them a “treasure.”
The silver coins were minted in Great Britain and Ireland 1,000 years ago, and they feature the likenesses of Edward the Confessor as well as Norse kings Sihtric Silkbeard and Canute. This discovery adds yet another chapter to the Isle of Man’s rich legacy as a hotspot for Viking activity.
Metal Detectorists Discover A Viking Coin Hoard On The Isle Of Man
In May 2024, metal detectorists John Crowe and David O’Hare were exploring the Isle of Man, a small island nestled between Great Britain and Ireland, when they unearthed a treasure trove. The hoard included 36 silver coins, both fragmented and whole. Dr. Kristin Bornholdt Collins, an independent researcher and the world’s leading expert on Viking Age coins, took on the task of examining the artifacts.
During her analysis, Bornholdt Collins discovered that the coins were minted in Great Britain and Ireland between 1000 and 1065 C.E. The majority of them were created during the reign of Edward the Confessor (1042 to 1066), while others were minted during the rule of Canute (1016 to 1035).
Manx National HeritageSome of the coins feature Canute, the 11th-century king of England, Norway, and Denmark.
The Irish coins, which were all minted in Dublin, feature the likeness of Sihtric Silkbeard, the Norse king who ruled Dublin from roughly 989 to 1036.
“This important hoard was likely assembled in two or more stages, with the earlier English and Irish coins deposited together in the first instance, and the later coins dating to Edward the Confessor added later,” Bornholdt Collins explained in a statement from Manx National Heritage.
It’s exceedingly rare to find a collection of coins with varying origins spanning such a long timeframe.
“Combined, the hoards provide a rare chance to study the contents side by side, right down to the detail of the dies used to strike the coins,” said Bornholdt Collins. “Having this much closely dated comparative material from separate finds is highly unusual.”
The Isle Of Man’s Role In Viking Trade
The history of the Isle of Man dates back to 6500 B.C.E., when humans first inhabited the island. By the ninth century C.E., Norseman had arrived on its shores. Its position in the center of the Irish Sea made it an optimal location for trading during the Viking Age.
Eventually, Viking raiders established permanent settlements on the island, leaving behind historical artifacts attesting to their long-held presence there. According to Allison Fox, the Curator for Archaeology at Manx National Heritage, “More Viking Age silver has been discovered per square kilometer [on the Isle of Man] than in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.”
Google MapsThe Isle of Man’s location between Great Britain and Ireland made it a hotspot for Viking settlements and trade routes.
This latest treasure trove further illustrates the island’s importance in Viking trade routes. Manx National Heritage noted, “The geographical range of mints represented in this hoard demonstrates a vibrant and mobile economy, with traders and cash flowing between Ireland, England, and the Isle of Man throughout the Viking era.”
With origins in both Ireland and England spanning a period of more than 60 years, the coins would have been akin to a diversified financial portfolio.
“This new hoard might be compared to a wallet containing all kinds of credit cards, notes and coins, perhaps of different nationalities, such as when you prepare to travel overseas, and shows the variety of currencies available to an Irish Sea trader or inhabitants of Man in this period,” said Bornholdt Collins.
The coins seem to have been abandoned around 1070 C.E., though researchers aren’t sure why. The treasure will be on display at the Manx Museum on the Isle of Man in early October, offering visitors an in-depth look at the island’s rich Norse heritage.