Bergen
Bergen
Håkon's Hall
Above: bracteate from Sverre Sigurdsson
Below: penny from Eirik Magnusson
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It
has been suggested that coins were minted in Bergen during the reign of
Sverre Sigurdsson (1177-1202). The hypothesis is based on the occurrence
of the inscription BERGIP and letter B as a motif on bracteates.
Several pennies from Eirik Magnusson (1280-1299) bear the inscription CIVITAS BERGENSIS, which can be translated as meaning "the city of Bergen". Excavations at the pier in Bergen (Bryggen) have uncovered a rune stick dating from the period 1200-1248. It is inscribed with the message: "Torkell the coin maker sends you pepper". This suggests that Torkell served Håkon Håkonsson (1217-1263) as mint-master. Norway's first gold coin was struck in Bergen. King
Hans (1483-1513) coined a gold gulden of Lübeck standard
with the inscription MONE NOVA AVREA BERGE, "a new gold coin from Bergen".
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