Penning, Sigtuna, Olof Skötkonung, circa 1000–1020

We don't really know why King Olaf of Sweden was given the name Skötkonung, but most interpretations assume that Skötkonung means ‘tax king’ and has to do with finances. Did he pay tribute to someone else? Did he introduce new taxes? It may also refer to the fact that Olof was the first Swedish king to have coins minted.

According to some researchers, this coin has a connection with the nickname Skötkonung. The reverse reads ‘SCEUT NONE... ON’, which could be interpreted as ‘ tax coin in’. Another possibility is that the maker was illiterate and copied random letters from other coins.

Image rights: Helena Bonnevier, Ekonomiska museet - Kungliga myntkabinettet/SHM (CC BY 4.0)

Object number: 100171_KMK

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