Myntstampsavtrycket från kv. Svartbröder och den tidiga myntningen i Lund

Abstract

At an archaeological excavation in central Lund in the early 1970s a very unusual find was retrieved: a piece of lead with several imprints from a coin die. The motif and the runic inscription on the lead plate indicate that the die derives from Sven Estridsen’s minting during his late years as king of Denmark. The find is quite unique. Early coin dies and imprints from coin dies are rare finds in the area that now constitutes Sweden. Despite this, the coin die imprint from early Lund has only been touched on briefly in archaeological literature. In this article a compilation of what is known about the imprint will be presented. Three issues in particular will be highlighted: Why were coins with runic inscriptions minted during Sven Estridsen’s time as king? Who manufactured coins in Lund during the second half of the 11th century? Where in Lund did the production take place during this period? To answer these questions, I will compile findings from various articles and sources. In this way, I will also be able to follow how the state of knowledge has changed over time.