1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon coin found in Shetland Islands

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 08:37 · Archive

Archaeologists in Shetland discovered an Anglo-Saxon coin minted between 991 and 997 AD bearing the face of King Ethelred the Unready.

Archaeologists in Shetland discovered a rare 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon coin during an excavation in Nesting, a coastal community in the eastern Shetland Islands. The coin was minted between 991 and 997 AD and depicts King Ethelred the Unready, who ruled England from 978 to 1013 AD. The coin, covered in a thick greenish-brown patina, still retains sharp markings on its surface.

The excavation was originally conducted to investigate prehistoric structures threatened by coastal erosion and included examination of nearby Iron Age structures. Archaeologist Elinor Graham from the University of Aberdeen, participating while on holiday, said the coin was 'extremely rare, actually unique, in this context'.

The discovery marks the northernmost find of an Anglo-Saxon coin in Shetland. Another such coin had previously been found at Old Scatness, an archaeological site in southern Shetland. The coin may offer clues about ancient trade routes between Viking-controlled Shetland and Anglo-Saxon England, though researchers have not ruled out the possibility it was taken during a Norse raid. Scotland's Treasure Trove Unit will determine whether the artifact should be offered to a museum.

How it is being reported

• Rare coin bearing face of king with infamous nickname unearthed after 1,000 yearsThe coin was unearthed during an excavation in Nesting, a coastal community in Scotland's eastern Shetland Islands.New York Post · 11 Oct, 08:26
• Rare coin bearing face of king with infamous nickname unearthed after 1,000 yearsMarking the northernmost find of its kind, a 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon coin depicting King Ethelred the Unready was unearthed in the Shetland Islands.Fox News · 10 Oct, 15:00

In this story: King Ethelred the Unready · Elinor Graham · University of Aberdeen · Shetland · Nesting · England

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