Extremely rare Viking Age coin from the reign of 'Olaf the Holy' may have been 'held in the king's own hand'
A massive Viking Age hoard that was discovered in Norway contains a rare silver coin featuring "Olaf the Holy," one of the country's first Christian kings.
A rare silver coin, minted during the reign of Viking king Olaf Haraldsson, has been discovered in the Mørstad Hoard in Norway. This coin bears the king's portrait and crosses on both sides. Only a few coins from Olaf's reign have been found, making this discovery particularly significant. The Museum of Cultural History at the University of Oslo considers the coin a national treasure.
University of Oslo coin expert Svein Gullbekk believes the coin showcases Christianization and establishes Olaf as a Christian king of European standing. Olaf converted to Christianity after joining Viking raids and was baptized in France. He ruled Norway from 1015 to 1028 and proclaimed Christianity as the sole legal religion. The coin was struck between 1024 and 1028 during the late Viking Age, and circulated for 20 to 25 years before being deposited in the hoard.
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