Sihtric III Irish Viking Coin – (995-1036)

Beginning around 795, Irish monasteries were attacked by Vikings raiders from Norway. Over time these Vikings raiders began settling and intermarrying with the native Irish and in 841 created a settlement on the site of Dublin from which they ruled for three centuries.

Sigtrygg II Silkbeard Olafsson (Sihtric III) was an 11th-century Hiberno-Norse king of Dublin (Ireland). Sigtrygg was of Viking and Irish ancestry.  He was a son of Olaf Cuarán Viking King of York, Northumbria and of Dublin and the Irish Princes Gormflaith ingen Murchada of Leinster. From approximately 989 - 994 Sigtrygg became ruler of Dublin and his reign lasted over 40 years until about 1036.

It is believed that before the 8^th century the Irish lived in a coinless society relying on traditional forms of exchange such as cattle, grain and bullion. With evidence from hoards indicating that coins were not minted or circulated. Roman coins found were used for bullion and ritual offerings and not as currency. This was most likely a result of the lack of large urban economies and centralised leadership in Ireland.

The Vikings as seafaring traders had access to a wide variety of Anglo-Saxon, Byzantine, Frankish and Islamic coinage. Viking settlements in England had minted their own coins to trade with Anglo Saxon kingdoms. In approximately 995 Sihtric III minted what is believed to be the first coin struck in Ireland. These silver pennies were heavily influenced by the design of contemporary Anglo-Saxon coins of English King Aethelred II to help their acceptance in Ireland and other Viking traders 

This style of silver penny is a reproduction of a coin minted between approximately 995-1036. The face of the coin has a spiked hair bust of Sihtric III. The reverse of the coin has a long cross on the reverse which could serve as a guide for cutting the coin into halves or quarters.  

These coins are hand-stamped by a passionate reenactor who performs historical coin minting demonstrations. As each coin is hand stamped small variations may exist adding to the hand made character of the coins.

Made from high-quality pewter.

Cards and dice also available separately.