Ancient Coin Featuring Notorious King's Likeness Discovered After Millennium

WHO:

Fox News - Elinor Graham, an archaeologist from the University of Aberdeen, participated in the excavation.

Fox News - Daniel McLean, Archie Maclean, and Alfie Pullin spoke about the Gordonstoun’s Swona Service Project.

WHAT:

Fox News - Archaeologists uncovered a rare Anglo-Saxon coin dating back 1,000 years.

Fox News - The coin was minted between 991 and 997 A.D.

Fox News - The coin depicts King Ethelred the Unready, who ruled England from 978 to 1013 A.D.

Fox News - The coin has a thick, greenish-brown patina covering its surface, with some original markings still visible.

Fox News - The discovery could provide clues about ancient trade routes between Viking-controlled Shetland and Anglo-Saxon England.

WHERE:

NY Post - The coin was unearthed during an excavation in Nesting, a coastal community in Scotland's eastern Shetland Islands.

Fox News - The archaeological investigation included an examination of nearby Iron Age structures.

WHEN:

Fox News - The coin was minted between 991 and 997 A.D.

Fox News - Ethelred regained power in 1014 and ruled until his death in 1016.

WHY:

Fox News - The excavation was originally conducted to investigate prehistoric structures threatened by coastal erosion.

HOW:

Fox News - The coin may have reached Shetland through trade with Anglo-Saxon England or as loot taken during a Viking raid.

Fox News - The archaeological excavation was part of a project to uncover historical artifacts and structures.

(UPDATED October 11, 2026 09:00 UTC)

Archaeologists have made a significant discovery in Nesting, a coastal community in Scotland's eastern Shetland Islands, unearthing a rare Anglo-Saxon coin that dates back to between 991 and 997 A.D. The coin, which features King Ethelred the Unready, has a thick, greenish-brown patina and may provide insights into ancient trade routes between Viking-controlled Shetland and Anglo-Saxon England. This excavation was initially aimed at investigating prehistoric structures that are at risk due to coastal erosion, and it included an examination of nearby Iron Age structures.