Penning, Sigtuna, Olof Skötkonung, circa 1000–1020

This coin was minted in Sigtuna during the reign of Olof Skötkonung. It resembles English coins of Long Cross type, but unlike the English ones, the inscription on this coin can’t be read. You can work out some of the letters – E, D and O – but they don’t really form a word. Maybe the mintmaster didn’t know how to use the Latin alphabet.

Image rights: Helena Bonnevier, Historiska museet/SHM (CC BY 4.0