Penning, Götaland, Birger jarl, 1248–1266

In medieval Sweden, it was unusual for the king to have anyone other than himself mint his own coins. Birger Jarl is one of the few to have done so. A capital B, for Birger, can be seen on pennings from Lödöse.

Several Birger pennings were found in a large hoard discovered in 1786 by a farmer and his mother in Brunnsgården in the parish of Styra in Östergötland.

Birger Magnusson, better known as Birger Jarl, belonged to what was known as the House of Bjälbo, or the House of Folkung, in Östergötland. He is usually associated with the founding of Stockholm, and took over the rule of the country as jarl (the king’s closest relative) in 1248.

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

Object number: 101422_KMK

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