Islamic coins found in Viking shield boss

A leather purse containing several Islamic coins has been found inside a Viking shield boss at a site where a sword was found by a metal detectorist last year.

Arabs (Moors) conquered Spain in the year 711 while Norwegian Vikings came to Spain in the 800s. They plundered, among other cities, Seville in 844. Maybe the coins have been stolen in Spain?

Or has he got hold of them when he travelled eastwards following the Volga trade route?

The Vikings traveled all the way to Constantinople by rowing and sailing down the Russian rivers – and maybe the coins have been payment for slaves, or furs and walrus ivory?

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Story: ThorNews | Photo: Åge Hojem / NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology