Rare coin bearing face of king with infamous nickname unearthed after 1,000 years

Key Points:

• Archaeologists in Scotland's Shetland Islands 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 well-preserved markings and depicts King Ethelred, who ruled England from 978 to 1016 A.D. and is known for his struggles against Viking invasions.
• This find marks the northernmost discovery of an Anglo-Saxon coin in Shetland, suggesting possible ancient trade routes or Norse raids connecting Viking-controlled Shetland and Anglo-Saxon England.
• Archaeologist Elinor Graham highlighted the significance of the coin in indicating a potentially cosmopolitan community in the area with extensive historical layers from the Bronze Age through the Viking period.
• The coin's future will be decided by Scotland’s Treasure Trove Unit, with hopes it will be displayed at the Shetland Museum and Archives, adding to other recent significant ancient coin discoveries in the UK.