Rare gold Byzantine coin with the image of Christ found in Norway

Named versions of how the artifact got to Scandinavia

A rare Byzantine gold coin, probably brought from Constantinople, was discovered in Norway, far from the territory of modern Turkey.

A metal detector exploring the mountains in the municipality of Vestre Slidre in southern Norway has discovered a rare “nomisma histamenon” (literally standard coin), a Byzantine pure gold coin minted in Constantinople around 960 AD, featuring the image of Jesus Christ.

According to Arkeonews, the antique coin is exceptionally well preserved considering its appearance. This is the only coin of its kind ever found in Norway.

Innlandet County Municipality said in a press release. “The coin has been preserved exceptionally well. The coin appears virtually unchanged since it was lost perhaps a thousand years ago.”

The ancient coin was introduced into circulation in the Byzantine Empire, also called the Eastern Roman Empire, and was likely minted in Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire – present-day Istanbul.

On one side of the coin, Christ is depicted holding a Bible, and on the other, the emperors Basil II (left) and Constantine VIII (right) are probably minted. Both of them were brothers and ruled together. This means that the artifact must have traveled more than 1,600 miles from its place of origin to the place where it was found.

The coin was minted towards the end of the reigns of Basil II and Constantine VIII, sometime between 977 and 1025 AD, as evidenced by the triple dotted border surrounding the coin.

The gold coin also has written inscriptions. On one, written in Latin with the seal of Christ, it is written: “Jesus Christ, king of kings.” The other, written in Greek on the reverse side of the coin, reads: “Basilius and Constantine, Emperors of the Romans.”

Archaeologists speculate that the rare and valuable coin may have found its way to Norway along with heavy loot that the future King Harald III, aka Harald Hardrada, brought home after a decade spent in the Varangian Guard of the Byzantine Empire.

“At that time, it was customary for the guards to be given the right to plunder the palace and take away any valuables they could find when the emperor died. During Harald’s reign, three emperors died in Byzantium,” officials said. Thus, the former king could acquire gold coin in Constantinople and take it with you to Norway.

The gold coin may also have found its way into the early salt trade in Norway, whose transport routes ran perpendicularly from western Norway across the country.