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Two hobbyists have recently found one of the largest Viking artifacts ever found – fittingly, in a Nordic country.
The object was found in a field near Rena, about 18 kilometers north of Elverum in southeastern Norway, according to an announcement from the University of Oslo’s Museum of Cultural History (KHM).
Treasure hunters, Rune Sætre and Vegard Sørlie, allegedly found a pile of 19 silver coins on April 10.
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They contacted local officials at the Innlandet County Authority – and the site soon became the center of a major archaeological investigation.
The hoard contains 2,970 silver coins believed to have been buried around 1047. It marks the largest collection of Viking Age coins found in Norway since 1950 – and the largest in the country’s history.
Archaeologists and historians are investigating a large treasure trove of Viking Age coins found in southeastern Norway after two hobbyists alerted authorities about the find. (Anne Engesveen, Innlandet County Authority)
These coins were made between the 980s and 1040s and bear the names of rulers including Æthelred II, Otto III, Harald Hardrada and the legendary King Cnut.
Most of the coins were made in England or Germany, which officials said showed a strong foreign influence on the Norwegian economy during the Viking Age.
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“Foreign coins dominated Norwegian currency until Harald Hardrada (1046-1066) established a national coinage,” KHM professor Svein Gullbekk said in a statement.
“The hoard was installed at the beginning of this development.”
The hoard found near Rena is believed to have been buried around 1047 during a turning point in Norway’s economic history. (May-Tove Smiseth, Innlandet County Authority)
KHM described the discovery as “an unprecedented treasure trove in the Norwegian context.”
Hanna Geiran, director general of the Directorate for Cultural Heritage, said “I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard about the discovery.”
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He added, “This is a national and international event, and few things capture people’s imagination like the Viking Age in Norway.”
It is unclear why the hoard was buried, although researchers believe it may have been tied to the booming metal trade in the region during the Viking Age.
“This is an example of how it should be done.”
Archaeologist Jostein Bergstøl of the Museum of Cultural History believes that the large hoard of coins may represent wealth amassed through that trade.
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“From the 900s until the end of the 1200s, there was a lot of iron production in this area,” he said. “The iron was extracted from the mines, and the milled iron was sent to Europe.”
Officials also commended the two detectors for following proper procedures and helping to secure the area.
The Viking Age hoard includes coins linked to rulers such as Harald Hardrada, King Cnut and Æthelred II, according to researchers. (Innlandet County Authority; Anne Engesveen, Innlandet County)
“This is an example of how it should be done,” said Innlandet County Authority archaeologist May-Tove Smiseth.
“Sætre and Sørlie communicated quickly and did everything with this letter, in full compliance with the directives of the Directorate for Cultural Heritage,” he added.
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“They have been very cooperative and very involved in validating and documenting the findings in the best possible way.”
Researchers are analyzing and cataloging the coins, and KHM said the hoard “will be the subject of research for years to come.”
KHM described the discovery as “an unprecedented treasure trove in the Norwegian context.” (Innlandet regional authority)
Fox News Digital has reached out to KHM for further comment.
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The Norwegian coin hoard joins a growing list of Viking-era finds over the past year.
In 2025, archaeologists in northern Germany discover a trove of 1,000-year-old Viking treasures after a metal detector tipped off officials about the find.
Archaeologists believe that the Viking age silver hoard may have been tied to the metal trade that flourished in Norway more than a thousand years ago. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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That year, Swedish officials also announced the discovery of Viking grave “with Christian power” on the outskirts of Linkoping.
