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Anglo-Saxon coin minted under Ethelred the Unready found in Shetland
Fox News • • world
Key Points:
- Archaeologists in Shetland, Scotland, discovered a 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon coin minted under King Ethelred the Unready during an excavation aimed at studying prehistoric structures threatened by coastal erosion.
- The coin, dating from 991 to 997 A.D., is notable for its rarity in the region and could provide insights into ancient trade routes between Viking-controlled Shetland and Anglo-Saxon England.
- Elinor Graham, an archaeologist from the University of Aberdeen, highlighted the coin's sharp inscriptions and its uniqueness in the northern Shetland context, suggesting the area was once a well-connected cosmopolitan community.
- The find marks the northernmost discovery of an Anglo-Saxon coin in Shetland, with previous similar coins found further south, and may eventually be added to the Shetland Museum and Archives.
- Scotland's Treasure Trove Unit will assess the artifact to determine if it should be offered to a museum, reflecting the region's rich history spanning the Bronze Age through the Viking Norse period.
