Pierced and Looped Coins. The Use of Coins

as Ornaments in the Viking Age.

Florent Audy

Numismatiska Klubben i Uppsala Mars 2014

Two coin-ornaments from the British Museum. To the left, a Late Antique coin-set pendant. To the

right, the Wilton Cross.

A random selection of Viking coin-ornaments.

Arabic German English Total

Denmark 5 100 24 000 14 500 57 900

Norway 400 3 300 3 300 10 700

Sweden 65 100 78 400 32 100 190 600

Mainland Sweden 15 300 16 200 6 300 44 800

Gotland 49 800 62 200 25 800 145 800

Finland 1 700 3 800 1 000 7 000

Total 72 300 109 500 50 900 266 200

Survey of coins from the 8th-12th centuries found in the Nordic countries. Source Talvio 2002

Comparison between two coin-pendants from Birka. Same scale.

Scandinavian coins with deer and mask, c.850. Birka grave Bj 184.

Necklace with Byzantine coin-pendant. Birka grave Bj 632.

Fragment of necklace from Paunküla, Estonia. 11th century.

Chain of coins from Johannishus.

Examples of miniature amulets found in combination with coin-pendants. Birka grave Bj 968.

Ornaments from the Vårby hoard.

One of the imitation coins from the Vårby hoard.

Agnus Dei coin-pendant from the Johannishus hoard.