Rare coin from reign of Norway’s King Olaf found for first time since 1924 among Viking hoard

A rare coin minted during the reign of Olaf Haraldsson (Saint Olaf) was discovered among the Mørstad Hoard, the largest Viking Age coin hoard ever found in Norway. The artifact was identified by archaeologist Anne Skogsfjord while cataloguing coins from the hoard, which was discovered by metal detectorists in Rena in April.

A rare coin minted during the reign of Olaf Haraldsson, also known as Saint Olaf, has been discovered among the Mørstad Hoard, the largest Viking Age coin hoard ever found in Norway. The artifact was identified by archaeologist Anne Skogsfjord while cataloguing coins from the hoard, which was discovered by metal detectorists Vegard Sørlie and Rune Sætre in Rena in April. The coin features a left-facing bust wearing a conical battle helmet with the inscription ONLAF R+ NORMANORV, meaning "Olaf, King of the Norwegians," and a cross on three steps on the reverse, inspired by Byzantine coinage. It is one of fewer than 20 surviving coins from Haraldsson's reign, and only the fourth of its type ever found, with the last such discovery in Norway occurring in 1924 during the restoration of church ruins at Stein. The coin shows small knife cuts indicating it was used commercially to test silver content during payments. Numismatics Professor Svein H. Gullbekk described it as "a Christianisation coin on a grand scale," noting that King Olaf used coinage to legitimize Christianity and establish himself as a Christian king. The coin will be displayed as part of an exhibition on the Mørstad Hoard at Norway's Historical Museum on November 20.