A fisherman digging for worms in Sweden uncovered a hoard of 20,000 medieval coins in a cauldron, according to a statement by the Stockholm County administrative board.
Sofia Andersson, an antiquarian at the County Administrative Board of Stockholm, said the discovery is “one of the largest silver hoards from the early Middle Ages ever found in Sweden.”
“We don’t yet know exactly how many coins there are, but I believe it could be up to 20,000,” she continued. “Most of the objects are well-preserved, though unfortunately, the copper cauldron that contained them is not.”
Archaeologists are now working to find an exact date for the coins.
Found still in the ornate jug the coins were buried in near a private cottage, experts said the 6kg find was “unusually large and well-preserved.”
Featured on the hoard of silver coins uncovered in Sweden
Some of the uncovered coins bore the inscription of King Knut Eriksson, also known as Canute I, who ruled Sweden from 1173 until his death in 1195.
Other coins feature images of churches and a bishop.
“During the Middle Ages, so-called bishop’s coins were minted in parts of Europe – coins produced on behalf of a bishop,” the statement said. “The hoard contains several such coins depicting a bishop holding a crozier in his right hand.
“The County Administrative Board will also report the find to the Swedish National Heritage Board, which will decide whether the state will redeem the treasure – that is, compensate the finder.”
Andersson added the finder had done “exactly the right thing” by handing the coins to authorities, adding that “according to the Cultural Environment Act, anyone who finds an ancient object made of silver or a hoard is required to offer it to the state for redemption in exchange for payment.”