In 1999, an exciting discovery took place on a modest farm on Gotland, Sweden's largest island. A film crew was accompanying archaeologist Jonas Ström and numismatist Kenneth Jonsson when the farmer stumbled upon a Viking coin. This initial find led to the uncovering of around 150 coins and various artifacts. After the film crew had captured the footage they needed, they departed from the scene. However, Ström and Jonsson decided to continue their unofficial search using a metal detector. In less than half an hour, they stumbled upon two substantial caches of Viking treasure.
Recognizing the significance of their discovery, they promptly requested official permission to conduct an excavation. News of the find spread rapidly, attracting a crowd of more than 2,000 people to the farm during the first weekend after the excavation became public knowledge. Subsequently, a third cache of treasures was uncovered. By the end of the excavation, a staggering 67 kilograms (148 pounds) of silver and 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of bronze artifacts had been unearthed.
This remarkable treasure, believed to have been buried beneath a ninth-century outbuilding, consisted of a wide range of items, including coins, bullion, and jewelry like rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Among the 14,295 coins found at the site, an astonishing 14,200 were ancient Islamic dirhams, while the remaining 95 consisted of a mix of Nordic, Byzantine, and Persian coins. Some of these coins were later identified as modern forgeries.
One of the most captivating discoveries was the "Moses Coin," minted in the Khazar kingdom around 800. This coin closely mimicked the design of a silver dirham, but its inscription referenced Moses instead of Mohammed. This finding provided some archaeological evidence for the intriguing but unverified claim that Khazar rulers may have converted to Judaism.
The hoard from this spill treasure is recognized as the largest Viking hoard ever unearthed. Today, these extraordinary treasures are on display at Sweden's Gotland Museum, allowing visitors to appreciate the rich history and cultural significance of this remarkable find.