Treasure hunters find biggest Viking coin hoard in country's history: 'Without parallel'

Two hobbyists precocious uncovered 1 of the largest Viking coin hoards ever recovered — fittingly, successful a Nordic country.

The hoard was recovered successful a tract adjacent Rena, astir 18 miles northbound of Elverum successful southeastern Norway, according to an announcement from the University of Oslo's Museum of Cultural History (KHM).

The treasure hunters, Rune Sætre and Vegard Sørlie, suspected they had uncovered a hoard erstwhile they recovered 19 metallic coins connected April 10.

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They contacted section officials astatine Innlandet County Authority — and the tract soon became the halfway of a large archaeological investigation.

The cache consists of 2,970 metallic coins believed to person been buried astir 1047. It marks the largest Viking Age coin hoard discovered successful Norway since 1950 — and the biggest successful the country's history.

Archaeologists and historians are studying a monolithic Viking Age coin hoard discovered successful southeastern Norway aft 2 hobbyists alerted authorities to the find. (Anne Engesveen, Innlandet County Authority)

The coins were minted betwixt the 980s and the 1040s and carnivore the names of rulers including Æthelred II, Otto III, Harald Hardrada and the legendary King Cnut.

Most of the coins were minted successful England oregon Germany, which officials said reflects the beardown overseas power connected Norway’s system during the precocious Viking Age.

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"Foreign coinage dominates the circulation of wealth successful Norway up until Harald Hardrada (1046–1066) established a nationalist coinage," KHM prof Svein Gullbekk said successful a statement.

"The hoard was deposited close astatine the opening of this development."

The coin cache discovered adjacent Rena is believed to person been buried astir 1047 during a transformative play successful Norway's economical history. (May-Tove Smiseth, Innlandet County Authority)

KHM described the find arsenic "a coin hoard without parallel successful a Norwegian context."

Hanna Geiran, manager wide of the Directorate for Cultural Heritage, said she could "hardly judge my ears erstwhile I heard astir the find."

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She added, "This is some a nationalist and an planetary event, and fewer things seizure people’s imaginativeness arsenic overmuch arsenic the Viking Age successful Norway."

It remains unclear wherefore the hoard was buried, though researchers judge it whitethorn person been tied to the region's booming robust commercialized during the Viking Age.

"This is an exemplary lawsuit of however it should beryllium done."

Archaeologist Jostein Bergstøl of the Museum of Cultural History believes the monolithic coin cache whitethorn correspond wealthiness accumulated done that trade.

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"From the 900s until the precocious 1200s, determination was tremendous robust accumulation successful this area," helium said. "Ore was extracted from the bogs, and the processed robust was exported to Europe."

Officials besides praised the 2 detectorists for pursuing due procedures and helping unafraid the site.

The Viking Age hoard includes coins linked to rulers specified arsenic Harald Hardrada, King Cnut and Æthelred II, according to researchers. (Innlandet County Authority; Anne Engesveen, Innlandet County)

"This is an exemplary lawsuit of however it should beryllium done," said Innlandet County Authority archaeologist May-Tove Smiseth.

"Sætre and Sørlie instantly got successful interaction and person done everything by the book, successful afloat accordance with the Directorate for Cultural Heritage’s guidelines," she added. 

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"They person been highly cooperative and person actively contributed to securing and documenting the find successful the champion imaginable way."

Researchers are analyzing and registering the coins, and KHM said the hoard "will beryllium the taxable of probe for galore years to come."

KHM described the find arsenic "a coin hoard without parallel successful a Norwegian context." (Innlandet County Authority)

Fox News Digital reached retired to KHM for further comment.

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The Norwegian coin cache adds to a increasing database of large Viking-era discoveries implicit the past year.

In 2025, archaeologists successful bluish Germany uncovered a hoard of astir 1,000-year-old Viking treasures aft a metallic detectorist alerted officials to the find.

Archaeologists judge the Viking-era metallic hoard whitethorn person been tied to Norway’s booming robust commercialized much than 1,000 years ago. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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That year, Swedish officials besides announced the find of a Viking sedate with "Christian overtones" connected the outskirts of Linköping.