Penning, Svealand, Johan Sverkersson, 1216–1222

This coin shows a tower and the letters I and O, the first two letters in the name “Johan”. King Johan Sverkersson was unmarried and childless, and he was the last of the male line of the Sverker family. He died in 1222 at the age of just 21.

During his short reign, Johan issued coins with six different motifs and in several variants, all bearing his name. These are of the Svealand type, and they were probably minted in Östra Aros (what is now Uppsala). Knut the Tall used a similar motif later without the I O, but with an unclear inscription.

This specimen was part of a hoard of coins from the time of Johan which was found in a bog in Ljungkullen in the parish of Dimbo in Västergötland in 1870.

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

Object number: 100457_KMK

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