Machinist Simon Åkesson discovered a shiny copper Russian coin while digging in the old moat in Haga last Wednesday. Archaeologist Tom Wennberg, who is leading the excavation in Haga, said it was lucky that Simon noticed the find. The excavation is being carried out in connection with the Västlänken project in Gothenburg, and Wennberg said a large area has already been searched without success. The Russian coin, which is from the 18th century and has a denomination of 5 kopecks, is a spectacular find and will be registered for further research. According to Wennberg, the coin is probably worth a lot and could be exhibited in a museum in the future.
It was last Wednesday that machinist Simon Åkesson found the Russian coin. He was about to dig away a fill layer, in the old moat in Haga, when he noticed the shiny copper object.
According to Tom Wennberg, who is an archaeologist at the Gothenburg City Museum and field leader in Haga, it was pure luck that Simon drew attention to the find.
– It is very muddy and we have driven quite a lot away from the site, so we must have missed a lot of fun stuff, I realize now, says Tom Wennberg.
It is in connection with the excavation of Västlänken in Gothenburg that the excavation in Haga is carried out. A large area has already been searched without success – and the find came as a surprise.
– It is a spectacular find, I have no recollection of us having found anything like this before. It was lucky that we had a vigilant machinist, says Wennberg.
How does it feel to find a coin like this?
– It will be a mood booster for the digging team. Everyone wants to find something like this and everyone is on the hunt.
Image: Ester Nannmark at the Archaeologists
The archaeologist: “Probably worth quite a lot”
According to Tom Wennberg, the Russian coin is from the time of Catherine II in the 18th century. The coin has a denomination of 5 kopecks – and the value can be high.
– It is probably worth quite a lot. It feels more like a medal when you hold it, he says.
There are various theories about how the Russian coin could have ended up in the old moat. The coin may have been, among other things, a Russian souvenir, or came from a Russian who was visiting.
– A lot is happening during this time and we may not get any closer to the truth, but there are a few different possibilities, says Tom Wennberg.
What happens to the coin now?
– It will be registered as all our finds do. You have to research it a bit more, but it is definitely the type of find that can be exhibited in a museum in the future.
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