__FORCETOC__

Viking coinage was used during the Viking Age of northern Europe. Prior to the usage and minting of coins, the Viking economy was predominantly a bullion economy, where the weight and size of a particular metal is used as a method of evaluating value, as opposed to the value being determined by the specific type of coin.Williams, Gareth. “History - Ancient History in Depth: Viking Money.” BBC, BBC, 17 Feb. 2011, www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/money_01.shtml By the ninth century, the Viking raids brought them into contact with cultures well familiarised with the use of coins in economies of Europe, hence influencing the Vikings own production of coins.

Within Scandinavia itself, Vikings were aware of coins from various regions including the Arab areas of the day, bringing further influence. Before minting of their own coinage, a flow of international coins provided the basis for an early economy with which to develop.

Danish ruled kingdoms in the British Isles, known as the Danelaw, began to model their own coins on rulers in addition to various Christian imagery. Within Scandinavia, the adoption of particular coinages within each of the Danish, Swedish and Norwegian coinages became evident towards the late 990s.Silver Economy in the Viking Age, edited by James Graham-Campbell, and Gareth Williams, Taylor & Francis Group, 2007. ProQuest Ebook Central As with most coins of the period, including within the Danelaw, the majority of these were modelled on the rulers of these particular regions. Each kingdom had varying success with the introduction and consequent use of their own coinage.

The finds of multiple silver hoards within the United Kingdom and Scandinavia, provide evidence of the types and design of coins of the various Viking rulers and kings and the influence of outside cultures. Such hoards include the Cuerdale (consisting of some 7000 coins) and Silverdale hoards in the UK.Williams, Gareth, and Leslie Webster. “The Cuerdale Hoard.” History - Ancient History in Depth, BBC, 17 Feb. 2011, www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/cuerdale_01.shtml“Important Viking Hoard Highlights the Continuing Success of the Treasure Act and Portable Antiquities Scheme.” The Portable Antiquities Scheme, British Museum Office, 4 Jan. 2012, web.archive.org/web/20120104190948/finds.org.uk/news/stories/article/id/226 The majority of the Cuerdale hoard can be found in the British Museum. In addition, hoards found in Denmark and Sweden show a large proportion of Arabic coins, as well as other forms of bullion such as bracelets and jewellery.

Background and Bullion Economy

The early Viking age saw a predominantly bullion economy within society. Some suggest Scandinavian coins developed in the town of Ribe towards the early eighth century with evidence of Danish sceattas, however no archaeological remains of a particular mint have been found. The development of a bullion economy within the Viking Age saw goods exchanged for precious metals based on their weight and size as opposed to use of a particular type of coin. Silver was the most used metal within the economy as a means of trading. The silver was often weighed using lead weights and in order to safeguard people's wealth, melted down to be shaped into various other forms (such as bracelets and other jewellery).“Decorated Weight.” Waterford Museum of Treasures, www.waterfordtreasures.com/reginalds-tower/whats-inside/decorated-weight. Scales brought with traders allowed weights of such metals to be accurately accounted for, therefore allowing an easier system of exchange between parties within the Viking age prior to coinage. As well as these various precious metals being used as a means of exchange, precious metals became a symbol of power and wealth within society.

Towards the ninth century, raids took Vikings into contact with various towns and villages around the North and Irish Sea. Naturally, following raids of foreign nations, the Vikings became more accustomed to and more involved in local politics and economics. As a result, silver being used as a method of payment became more influential.Graham-Campbell, J (2011). Silver economies, monetisation and society in Scandinavia, AD 800-1100. Aarhus University Press p.84 The various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms already had their own coinage in use, which was often used to pay Vikings off in attempts to avoid raids, not necessarily always being successful. In addition to the influence of Anglo-Saxon coins, about 35% of coins entering Scandinavia were of Oriental descent,Alcock, L (1991). From the Baltic to the Black Sea. London: Routledge. pp. Chapter 9: What does coinage tell us about Scandinavian society in the late Viking Age? p.157 representing the wide-ranging influence of cultures outside the Viking kingdoms having important influences in the development of their own currencies and coinages.

Scandinavia

Denmark

The earliest known issued coins out of Viking age Denmark came under king Sweyn Forkbeard around the year 995.“History of Danish Coinage.” (22 Mar. 2012), History of Danish Coinage, Royal Danish Mint, web.archive.org/web/20120730153248/www.kgl-moent.dk/DKM/UK/RoyalMint.nsf/side/History_of_Danish_coinage%21OpenDocument These coins had various inscriptions including the name of Sweyn, as well as the issuing authority of the coins (GODWINE M-AN DNER: Godwine moneyer among the Danes),Bolton, Timothy (2009). The Empire of Cnut the Great: Conquest and the Consolidation of Power in Northern Europe in the Early Eleventh Century. BRILL. pp. 162–. . and the coins were made of silver. In following centuries, many coins were based on silver and their value determined by weight. These have been found to be few and minted at an unidentified site. Sweyn, along with Norwegian king Olaf Tryggvasson, had previously commanded the Viking invading force into England, leading to the enforcement of Danegeld (the English king Æthelred II, was required to pay the Danish: known as Danegeld). The English coins used as payment became some of the early prototypes for these Danish coins.Skaare, Kolbjorn. “Coins and Mints.” Medieval Scandinavia: An Encyclopaedia, edited by Phillip Pulsiano and Kirsten Wolf, Garland Publishing, Inc., 1993, pp. 101–103. The main two developments common in Denmark became: pennies highly similar to those minted within England, but struck in Denmark with images of the English king and name; and also pennies modelled on those made in England but with images more directly linked to Denmark.Alcock, Leslie, and Brita Malmer. “Chapter 9: What Does Coinage Tell Us about Scandinavian Society in the Late Viking Age? .” From the Baltic to the Black Sea: Studies in Medieval Archaeology, edited by David Austin, Routledge, 1997, pp. 162–164.

During the reign of Svend Estridsen, many Danish coins had a strong imitation of Byzantine types and towards the latter part of his reign, pennies had impressions of Danish runic characters. Later between 1074 and 1080, under the reign of Harald Hen, Denmark moved more to a nationalised currency and coinage.

The initial implementation of the Danish coinage began well, becoming further consolidated and established under the rule of Cnut, whereby the kingdoms of both Denmark and England were more united. Under Cnut in the 1020s came some of the first organised coinage, principally minted in Lund, but also found to be minted in multiple other cities such as Ribe, Hedeby and Aalborg.

Norway As in other parts of Viking Scandinavia, imports of coinages and coins from various regions of the world, entered their way into present day Norway as a result of increased trade. Across the Viking lands about 150 finds of coins found approximately 400 Arabian, 3300 Norwegian and a similar number of English coins.Brita Malmer (1976) Coins and Coinage in Viking-Age Norway, Scandinavian Economic History Review, 24:2, 153-156, DOI: 10.1080/03585522.1976.10407850 Some of the earliest issued coins within Norway itself came from around the 990s and were designed with the image of Olaf Tryggvasson, the king of Norway from 995 to 1000. Locally issued coinage is likely to have continued within Norway, evidenced from the composition of multiple found coin hoards. Under the reign of King Harald Sigurdsson, after having gained knowledge and experience in currencies during his service with the Byzantine emperor, a national currency was established. Generally, the pennies were issued with an approximate weight of 0.89 grams. Initially, these coins contained a high amount of silver, but gradually silver was dropped in overall content with higher percentages of copper being used instead, (particularly under Olaf Haraldsson). Nidarnes is likely to have been the location of the main mint of Norwegian coins under the rule of Haraldsson.

Initially, the distributed coinage within Norway, had a delicate start, but under the rule of Harald Hardrada, became much more influential.

Sweden The import of foreign coins into Sweden started around the year 800, continuing until approximately 1150 when the local minting of coins became more common. Predominantly, dirhams were imported into Sweden via Russia, with additional circulation coming from Germany, England and elsewhere. A high silver content was necessary providing weight standards for which to value the bullion.

Sweden’s native coinage began towards the 990s with the king Olof Skötkonung, issuing coins with his own image and title. The royal coinage was mainly produced around the town of Sigtuna and based on English coinage. Finds have linked these coins to Sigtuna based on die links as well as relationships between the imagery. King Anund Jacob continued the minting of coins in Sigtuna but was discontinued towards the end of his reign. The minting was likely resumed under the reign of King Canute I.BLACKBURN, M., & CHOWN, J. (1984). A die-link between the Sigtuna coinage of Olof Skötkonung and some Long Cross imitations reading 'OCLOD'. The Numismatic Chronicle, 144, 166-172. Retrieved from www.jstor.org/stable/42667385

Generally, the coinage was primitive in comparison to others of the period, with varying weight and meaningless inscriptions. These coins could have been used as a means of payment for soldiers as opposed to having a sole use in trading, resulting in this primitive type of coinage.Jonsson, Kenneth. “Small Things - Wide Horizons.” Small Things - Wide Horizons, edited by Bertil Helgesson et al., Archaeopress Archaeology, 2015, pp. 51. Christian imagery and resemblances were common in early Swedish coinage, modelling Anglo-Saxon coinage including inscriptions such as ‘IN NOMINE DOMINI’, meaning ‘In the name of the Lord’, as well as cross symbols.Silver Economy in the Viking Age, edited by James Graham-Campbell, and Gareth Williams, Taylor & Francis Group, 2007. ProQuest Ebook Central, p.194 Coinage from Sigtuna came to a conclusion around 1030.

Danelaw

The Danelaw, a region located in present-day United Kingdom which came under the rule of the Danes from approximately the 9th century to the 11th century, began to use coins influenced by the Danish. The earliest phases of coinage, under Viking rule were predominantly imitative of nearby coinages.Blackburn, Mark (2005). "Currency under the Vikings. Part I: Guthrum and the Earliest Danelaw Coinages". British Numismatic Journal. Few of these imitations modelled themselves on Viking rulers and kings, with many holding the name of King Alfred (king of the Anglo-Saxons) and being struck to a weight standard of approximately 1.6g. The minting of many of these coins, continued on from Anglo-Saxon production prior to invasion through to the 870s and 880s, but with some signs of Scandinavian rule.