Early coins

This style came surely from Frisian Doorstad (Duurstede) that began as centre of trade in 7th century. It was the transit traffic that made it big with goods coming from north and south and maybe also from England. They also expanded by opening factories and we do not know if the opened places like Ribe and Birka.

Hedeby seems to be developed from Denmark and the early kings. About 800 AD it was big enough to compete with the Frisians. The town was strategic well placed since it was on the path to the Baltic seas. Still traders do not know nationalities and the struggle occurred now and then, while it was business as usual.

The coins above are found also in Birka near Stockholm and we cannot say where they where they coin the money except on some are understandable text and then usually Doorstad. For Scandinavia these are nearly Pre-Christian and so is the symbolism. In upper row from the left are coins from the time of Carlemagne beginning of 9th century. We can note that the church at that time used much the same symbols for the ritual astronomy as we see here.

We can compare the ship in lover row with those on the picture stones at Gotland from 700 - 900 AD. In general the coinage tell us that the makers of coins were ambulating between places and kingdoms. Just like the Erils in "the old days" being craftsmen and dukes.