Finland uncovers its largest Viking Age silver hoard, a treasure of coins and jewelry

Finland’s largest Viking Age silver hoard, weighing about 4.5 kg and containing thousands of coins and jewelry, was found by metal detectorist Kalle Lappinen near Sysmä, north of Helsinki. Buried in two birch-bark containers about 12 meters apart, the deposits likely date to AD 1000–1050 and include coins from regions now Germany, Sweden and Great Britain, plus Islamic dirhams and hack silver. Archaeologists from the Lahti Historical Museum will continue cleaning, counting, and identifying the coins, with a formal report to follow. The discovery highlights Finland’s Viking Era archaeology, alongside recent large hoards found in Norway and Denmark.