Around the World: Dig for Worms Leads to Early Swedish Coins
A chance dig for bait near Stockholm uncovered a massive silver hoard, shedding new light on Sweden’s earliest coinage and medieval trade.
Discoveries have been known to open a can of worms, but seldom has someone digging for worms found much of worth…until now.
Recently, near Stockholm, an unnamed individual was digging for worms, presumably as bait for fishing at his summer house, when he found about 13 pounds of silver coins, rings, pearls, and pendants. The approximately 20,000 silver coins in the find were minted between 1173 and 1195, struck in the name of King Knut Eriksson of Sweden.
The city of Stockholm was founded in 1252, with the earliest written record of its name dating to that year. By that date, there was significant trade in iron originating from mines in Bergslagen. “Erik’s Chronicle” suggests that Stockholm may have been established earlier to defend against a sea invasion by Karelians in 1187.
According to the “Vastgota Law” chronicle, Knut Eriksson “fought many battles against Sweden and had the victory in them all and had great effort before he gained Sweden with peace.” His reign is explained in more detail in the later “Historia de omnibus Gothorum Sueonumque reibus.” It appears that Knut may have come to power through regicide, resulting from his ongoing battle against Karl Sverkersson.
The unnamed individual reported the hoard to local authorities, as is required by law. Under the Swedish government, ancient and valuable objects belong to the state; however, the finder may receive a reward based on the material value and uniqueness of the find, as determined by the Swedish National Heritage Board. Sources indicated the find was reported to the Swedish National Heritage Board by the Stockholm County Administrative Board.
Stockholm County Administrative Board antiquarian Sofia Andersson said, “The finder acted completely correctly in contacting us at the County Administrative Board. According to the Cultural Environment Act, anyone who finds an ancient silver find or a deposit find is obliged to offer the state to redeem it for payment.”
Andersson explained, “This is probably one of the largest silver treasures from the early Middle Ages that has been found in Sweden. We don’t yet know exactly how many coins there are, but I think it could be upwards of 20,000.”
Medieval Museum in Stockholm Director Lin Annerbäck was quoted in the Dagens Nyheter newspaper as saying, “It is completely unique; we have no other medieval treasures from Stockholm. And then it seems to be extremely large too…We believe that many hid treasures like this to keep them in the family’s possession. The fact that the silver is mixed with pearls and other things makes it seem like it’s someone’s wealth that has been hidden away.”
The exact location of the find has not been made public as it is currently being studied. It is known that the coins and other objects were found with a copper caldron. There was no mention of whether the unnamed individual succeeded in finding the worms he sought.
Some ancient Roman coins have been found in Sweden; however, Islamic silver dirhems appear to have been in common use before any locally manufactured money. These dirhems were likely used in trade for amber, furs, iron, and slaves. French scholar and archaeologist Manar Hammad published a study in 2023, in which Hammad notes that silver medieval Islamic coins were prevalent in Viking Age Scandinavia and that Scandinavian museums own approximately 500,000 dirhams, more than any other place in the world.
Sweden’s first coins were silver pfennig or pennies copied from Anglo-Saxon Crux pennies of Aethelred II. These early coins were struck in the name of Olof Skötkonung (995–1021). This was followed by issues of his son Anund Jacob (1022–1050). The coins of Anund Jacob imitate the pennies of King Canute the Great, who ruled England, Denmark, and Norway. There is no known domestic coinage for Sweden between the end of the Anund Jacob period and about 1150, when minting commenced in Lödöse.
Coins in the worm find are reported to carry the legend Kanutus and Kanutus Rex. Kanutus is Latin for Knut or Canute. It is believed the coins were produced between 1173 and 1195, and Knut issued German-type coins, reflecting his relations with northern Germany. Bracteates, jewelry, and ingots were in common use following this period.
Also found within the hoard are bishop’s coins, which feature the image of a bishop holding a crosier and a staff to represent these offices. Bishop’s pfennig were minted under the authority of the local bishop. The appearance of these coins is important; the first Catholic church archbishopric was established in Uppsala in 1164. Coins in this find also include issues of Götalandon on which a church appears.
Archaeologists have suggested that the hoard was buried during the late 12th century, a period of instability when Sweden was consolidating control over parts of Finland. The treasure may have been buried with the intention of retrieving it later.
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