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Representative Image of ancient silver coins and Viking Age artifacts displayed for archaeological examination (AI Generated Image)
A woman digging for fishing bait near her summer house in the Stockholm area uncovered what has since been identified as Sweden's largest coin hoard. The discovery was made in 2025 on the Mörkö peninsula near Södertälje and contained approximately 24,100 silver coins alongside 144 other objects.
The hoard dates from the Viking Age and early Middle Ages, with most of the coins dating to the 12th century. Its total weight is now reported at about 4.7 kilograms. After the discovery was reported to the Stockholm County Administrative Board, archaeologists examined the material and the surrounding site before the find was assessed by Sweden's National Heritage Board, the Riksantikvarieämbetet. In May 2026, the authority decided to redeem the hoard for 4 million Swedish kronor, recognising its exceptional archaeological and historical value.
Thousands of silver coins were found near a summer house
The discovery happened while the woman was digging for fishing bait near her summer house. She and her husband reported the find to the authorities, allowing archaeologists to investigate the discovery and document the objects. The initial announcement by the Stockholm County Administrative Board described the discovery as an unusually large silver hoard from the early Middle Ages. At that stage, the number of coins had not yet been established, with an initial estimate suggesting that there could be around 20,000.
Further examination subsequently established that the hoard contained approximately 24,100 silver coins and 144 additional objects. The collection weighs about 4.7 kilograms according to later Swedish reporting. The exact location of the discovery has been kept confidential while the archaeological work has been carried out. The material was subsequently assessed by the National Heritage Board, which considered its archaeological and historical significance when determining whether the state should redeem it.
Most of the coins date to the 12th century
The majority of the coins date from the 12th century. Some bear the inscription “KANUTUS”, the Latin form of the name Knut, and are associated with King Knut Eriksson, who ruled Sweden during the latter part of the 12th century. The hoard also contains unusual examples of medieval coinage known as bishop coins. Rather than being associated with a reigning king, these coins were issued in connection with bishops. Several examples depict a figure holding a crozier, the hooked staff traditionally associated with a bishop.Other coins are connected to Gotland. Some feature imagery that may represent a church building, although the interpretation is presented by the authorities as a possibility rather than a certainty. The mixture of royal, ecclesiastical and Gotlandic coinage makes the collection particularly significant to researchers studying the monetary and social history of medieval Sweden.
The final examination made it Sweden's largest coin hoard
When the discovery was first announced in September 2025, archaeologists did not yet know the final number of coins.
The Stockholm County Administrative Board said at the time that the hoard could contain around 20,000. The subsequent examination produced a larger total of approximately 24,100 silver coins, together with 144 other objects. The National Heritage Board now identifies the discovery, known as the Hörningsholm hoard, as the largest coin hoard ever found in Sweden.The authority has also highlighted the unusually large number of bishop coins among the finds.
Beyond the coins, the 144 additional objects contribute further archaeological information about the collection and the period in which it was buried. The National Heritage Board said the hoard has significant cultural and historical value because discoveries of this scale can provide information about Sweden's economy, contacts and society during the Viking Age and early Middle Ages.
The finder will receive 4 million kronor from the state
Swedish heritage legislation requires certain archaeological finds containing precious metals to be reported to the authorities and made available for possible redemption by the state.
The finder reported the discovery to the Stockholm County Administrative Board, allowing the authorities to take custody of the archaeological material and assess it. In May 2026, the National Heritage Board decided to redeem the Hörningsholm hoard for 4 million Swedish kronor.
The authority said its assessment of the compensation took into account the exceptional cultural and historical value of the discovery as well as the need for redemption payments to remain reasonable. The decision means that the hoard will become part of Sweden's archaeological heritage rather than remaining in private possession. Its approximately 24,100 silver coins and 144 additional objects provide researchers with an unusually substantial collection from the Viking Age and early Middle Ages, all originating from a single buried find near Stockholm.
