Nearly 3,000 Viking-era silver coins found in Norway’s largest hoard ever
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Two hobbyists recently uncovered one of the largest hoards of Viking coins ever found in a Scandinavian country.
The treasure was found in a field near Rena, about 29 kilometers north of Elverum in southeastern Norway, according to an announcement from the University of Oslo Cultural History Museum (KHM).
Treasure hunters Rune Sætre and Vegard Sørlie suspected they had found a treasure when they found 19 silver coins on April 10.
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They contacted local officials at the Innlandet County Administration and the area quickly became the center of a major archaeological investigation.
The cache consists of 2,970 silver coins believed to have been buried around 1047. This marks the largest hoard of Viking Age coins discovered in Norway since 1950 and the largest coin in the country’s history.
Archaeologists and historians are studying a huge hoard of Viking Age coins discovered in southeastern Norway after two amateurs alerted authorities to the find. (Anne Engesveen, Innlandet Provincial Administration)
The coins were minted between the 980s and 1040s and bore the names of rulers such as Æthelred II, Otto III, Harald Hardrada and the legendary King Cnut.
Most of the coins were minted in England or Germany, which officials said reflected the strong foreign influence on the Norwegian economy in the late Viking Age.
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“Foreign coinage dominated currency circulation in Norway until Harald Hardrada (1046-1066) established a national coinage,” KHM professor Svein Gullbekk said in a statement.
“The hoard was stored at the very beginning of this development.”
The coin hoard discovered near Rena is believed to have been buried around 1047, during a transformative period in Norway’s economic history. (May-Tove Smiseth, Innlandet Provincial Administration)
KHM described the discovery as “a hoard of coins that is unique in the Norwegian context.”
“I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard about the discovery,” said Hanna Geiran, director general of the Directorate of Cultural Heritage.
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“This is both a national and international event and few things capture people’s imagination as much as the Viking Age in Norway.”
It remains unclear why the hoard was buried, but researchers believe it may be linked to the region’s thriving iron trade during the Viking Age.
“This is an exemplary case of how it should be done.”
Archaeologist Jostein Bergstøl from the Cultural History Museum believes that the large cache of coins may represent the wealth gained through this trade.
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“From the 900s to the late 1200s, there was huge iron production in this region,” he said. “Ore was mined from the swamps and wrought iron was exported to Europe.”
Officials also praised the two detectorists for following proper procedures and helping secure the site.
According to researchers, the Viking Age hoard includes coins linked to rulers such as Harald Hardrada, King Cnut and Æthelred II. (Innlandet County Administration; Anne Engesveen, Innlandet County)
“This is an exemplary case of how this should be done,” said Innlandet County Authority archaeologist May-Tove Smiseth.
“Sætre and Sørlie contacted immediately and did everything by the book, in accordance with the guidelines of the Directorate of Cultural Heritage,” he added.
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“They were extremely cooperative and actively contributed to securing and documenting the find in the best possible way.”
Researchers are analyzing and recording the coins, and KHM said the treasure “will be the subject of research for years to come.”
KHM described the discovery as “a hoard of coins that is unique in the Norwegian context.” (Innlandet County Administration)
Fox News Digital has reached out to KHM for additional comment.
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Norway’s coin cache was added to a growing list of Viking-era discoveries last year.
In 2025, archaeologists in northern Germany uncovered a hoard of nearly 1,000-year-old Viking treasures after a metal detector alerted authorities to the find.
Archaeologists believe the Viking-era silver treasure may be tied to Norway’s booming iron trade more than 1,000 years ago. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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That same year, Swedish officials also announced a discovery. Viking grave with “Christian overtones” On the outskirts of Linköping.
