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 Replies: 13 / Views: 3,887 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Today, I visited the Cultural History Museum in Oslo, which has an excellent exhibit of coins from the late Viking era to modern day. According to this source, the first coins in Viking hoards included Anglo-Saxon, German, and even some Arabic Dirhams. Before I post the group of coins, I'd like to show you what was first used as money in the Viking era in Norway. The exhibit does not date the gold and silver "Viking currency", but perhaps they predate the first struck coins by Olav Tryggvasson (995 - 1000 AD). Apparently, by the reign of Harald Hardråde (1047 - 1066), only struck Norwegian coins were accepted as currency. Silver currency. The markings are interesting, because I have seen similar marks on other Viking silver used for money, and not just at exhibits at this particular museum. Do these marking signify its use as money?  Note the similar markings to those in the first photo. Perhaps some of this money was meant to be worn around the wrist.  Silver ingots and gold in tight coils:  More gold currency. Some gold is evidently alloyed with more copper. I wonder how if the value was established by weight, fineness of gold, or a combination of both?  Finally, some Arabic Dirhams. These are often found in Viking caches.  Tomorrow, I will return with the first coins of Norway. Edited by DVCollector
12/20/2011 3:58 pm
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Moderator
 United States
188440 Posts |
Very nice!  Keep it coming.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10038 Posts |
Great info & pics. Thanks for sharing.
How much squash could a Sasquatch squash if a Sasquatch would squash squash? Download and read: Grading the graders Costly TPG ineptitude and No FG Kennedy halveshttps://ln5.sync.com/dl/7ca91bdd0/w...i3b-rbj9fir2 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
981 Posts |
Cool items would not mind having some myself
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1228 Posts |
Thanks for sharing |
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
*wow*  ... man, just when you think that you own the coolest coins in the world, somebody ups ya and displays some Viking coins! just jokes => very nice (super cool & super interesting)  keep 'em comin' |
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
Very cool. Can't wait to see what's next.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
9404 Posts |
Very nice items. I wouldn't mind some of those gold coils. By the way, there is a possibility our family name has derived from Olav Tryggvasson (Trigg). Steve  |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10045 Posts |
Steve, yes...seeing all that gold in person got my attention. When I saw this pile of shipwrecked gold coins...I wanted to stuff my pockets! I've also seen Tryggve shortened as Trigg.  |
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Valued Member
United States
404 Posts |
Great pics, did they happen to say how much any of the coils weighed?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
That would be nice, but the weights weren't given for these coins, but the information might be found elsewhere.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Here is another type of Viking currency, that could be worn. It dates from around 850 AD. I notice these have a similar pattern around the edge as the silver currency pictured above. Part of the design appears to be a stylized Viking ship on the water.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1031 Posts |
I just made the pile of shipwrecked gold coins my desktop wallpaper.
Thanks for sharing!
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Replies: 13 / Views: 3,887 |
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Posted 12/20/2011 4:12 pm
