Penning, Sigtuna, Olof Skötkonung, circa 1000–1020
This coin from Stora Sojdeby on Gotland is something of an enigma. It says it was made by a mintmaster by the name of Beorthnoth in the town of “LUN”.
“LUN” could mean either Lund or London. Many researchers believe that the city of Lund in Skåne is named after London. Others argue that the name Lund might come from a sacrificial grove (“offerlund”) that used to stand on the site.
So where was this coin actually made – in London, or in Lund? Actually, a piece of lead found in a coin workshop in Sigtuna suggests that the coin was made there. Tools for making coins seem to have often been transported between different coin workshops.
