Time was running out for metal detectorist Kay Walton in a field in West Jutland. With Christmas just around the corner, it was surely only a matter of time before her location would be knee deep in snow.
But then her apparatus beeped: she had just discovered a silver coin minted during the reign of Christian IV in the early 17th century. She figured there might be more, and by Boxing Day she had discovered 23 more.
Following approval from the owner of the field at Hover in Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality, an excavation began despite frost and occasional snowfall, which revealed a further 27, bringing the total to 51.
The excavation failed to establish the exact location of the hoard, or indeed the container in which the coins were buried, but it has nevertheless been hailed as one of the most astonishing finds of its type in recent years.
An impressive selection of designs
Buried because of the Swedish wars?
In addition to Christian IV, the coins also date from the reign of Frederik III – two kings who presided over extensive wars with the Swedes, where the Danes lived in fear of being invaded.
It is speculated that the coins – schilling coins and rigsdalers minted between 1607 and 1652 – may have been buried to prevent them from falling into the hands of marauding Swedish soldiers.
Nearby Ringkøbing-Skjern Museum took responsibility for the treasure, which is now on its way to the National Museum.
The museum wanted to wait until the excavation was complete to confirm the find, just in case a new army, this time of treasure hunters, showed up looking for loot.
The most valuable of the coins bore the depiction of a kind of knight
Source: The Nordic Page