Archaeologists in Scotland have unearthed an Anglo-Saxon coin dating back approximately 1,000 years, minted under King Ethelred the Unready. The coin was discovered during an excavation in Nesting, a coastal community in Scotland's eastern Shetland Islands, as part of a larger investigation into prehistoric structures threatened by coastal erosion.
The excavation, led by Archaeology Shetland, aimed to examine nearby Iron Age structures. The coin, which bears the image of King Ethelred, was minted between 991 and 997 A.D. Its discovery has sparked interest among researchers, who believe it may provide clues about ancient trade routes between Viking-controlled Shetland and Anglo-Saxon England.
Elinor Graham, an archaeologist from the University of Aberdeen, was part of the excavation team. She noted that the writing on the coin remains sharp and that its rarity is evident. Graham hopes the coin will eventually be added to the collections at the Shetland Museum and Archives.
The discovery of the coin has significant implications for understanding the history of the region. Graham suggested that the area may have been home to a "well-connected cosmopolitan community" with trading links to Anglo-Saxon England. The coin's origins, however, remain a topic of debate, with researchers considering the possibility that it was taken as loot during a Norse raid.
Scotland's Treasure Trove Unit will determine whether the artifact should be offered to a museum.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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