Sweden's Viking Age: The Sigtuna Coins and Christianization

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the transition from the Viking Age to early medieval Sweden through the lens of Sigtuna's coinage. At the end of the 10th century, King Olof Skötkonung began minting Sweden's first silver coins in Sigtuna, blending Christian imagery with older runic traditions. These coins, found in hoards across the Baltic, reveal a kingdom negotiating its identity between Norse paganism and Latin Christendom. The conversation traces the political motives behind the coinage, the role of English missionaries, and the gradual shift from tribute to institutional power. Along the way, they discuss the Sigtuna rune stones, the cult of Saint Erik, and the contested legacy of Olof's conversion—showing how a small mint on Lake Mälaren helped forge a Swedish kingdom.

#VikingAge #Sigtuna #OlofSkTkonung #Coinage #Christianization #MedievalSweden #RuneStones #SaintErik #MLaren #Birk #Numismatics #Conversion #SwedishHistory #EarlyMiddleAges #Missionaries #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast #SwedishEmpire #GustavusAdolphus

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