Metal Detectorist Finds Byzantine Gold Coin With 'Face of Jesus' Depiction While Exploring Mountains in Norway

A metal detectorist exploring the Vestre Slidre mountains was able to discover a 1,000-year-old gold coin with a depiction of Jesus Christ.

Byzantine Gold Coin With 'Face of Jesus' Depiction

This kind of small coin is referred to as histamenon nomisma. It was first introduced in A.D. 960. The coin depicts Jesus carrying a Bible on one side. On the other side, images of Constantine VII and Basil II, who were brothers who governed the Byzantine Empire, were depicted.

Archaeologists believe that the minting of the coin was between A.D. 977 and A.D. 1025, during the reign of the brothers. This was based on the three line dots that circle the border of the coin, which is a design that was commonly employed during this time.

The artifact was also found to contain two inscriptions. The first one was written in Latin and translates to "Jesus Christ, King of those who reign." The second one was inscribed in Greek and states, "Basil and Constantine, emperors of the Romans."

During the height of its prestige, the Byzantine Empire covered most land around the Mediterranean Sea. This includes parts of Turkey, Greece, and Italy. It also covered parts of the Middle East and Northern Africa.

The Byzantine Empire was able to survive a thousand years after the western half of the Roman Empire ended up crumbling into kingdom feuds.

Byzantine Coin's Mysterious Arrival on Mountains of Norway

How the coins reached the mountainside remains a mystery to the researchers. They speculate that it could have been under the ownership of Harald Hardrada, or Harald III, who ruled Norway (1045-1066). Before he became king, Harald II was a guard of the Byzantine emperor. Back then, guards commonly sought permission to loot the palace after the death of an emperor.

The coin could have also been part of Harald III's dowry for marrying the daughter of Kyiv's Prince Yaroslav, who is also known as Yaroslav the Wise. The coin could have also been used or lost during the early salt trade in Norway. Archaeologists are planning to go back to the mountains in 2024 to excavate further.

Norway Gold Finds By Metal Detectorist

This novel discovery is not the first time a metal detectorist has found gold while examining the lands of Norway.

During the summer, a man from Norway was also able to discover 10 gold pearls, three rings, and nine pendants using a metal detector. He specifically found it on Rennesoy Island, close to Stavanger City.

In October, it was also announced by the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo that dozens of prehistoric gold-foil figures with Norse deity depictions were found in a pagan temple site close to Vingrom.

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