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The coins unearthed in the archaeological excavations at Turaida Castle
34
Tatjana Berga
THE COINS UNEARTHED IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL
EXCAVATIONS AT TURAIDA CASTLE
During archaeological excavations at Turaida Castle, huge and significant numismatic
material was found, including two coin hoards of the 15th century and more than 200 coins
and jettons from different periods of time. This material provides essential evidences about
the structure of currency in circulation in different periods of time, trade development and
relations with other countries. Hoard finds are of particular importance.
Hoard
is a complex of coins, a peculiar snapshot of money circulation that perfectly
reflects the structure of currency in circulation in the year and day, when the hoard was
buried. Turaida Hoard I was found during archaeological excavations in 1982, on the western
slope of the hillfort, 11.5 m northwards from the Semi-round Tower and about 3.2 m
towards the slope in the earth of embankment. The hoard consists of 12 coins (TMR 11140:
1–12). The coins were scattered in the area of ca 1 m
2
. The oldest coin of the hoard is artig
of Tallinn, struck by the State of the Livonian Order, end of the 14th century, the newest –
six coins: one artig struck in Tallinn and five shillings, struck in the second quarter of the
15th century. The other coins include two shillings of the Archbishop of Riga, Henning
Scharpenberg (1424–1448), and four shillings of the Bishop of Tartu, Dietrich IV Resler
(1413–1441). According to the chronology, the hoard is very compact, most of the coins
relate to the second quarter of the 15th century and they date back to 1425–1450. The find-
ing conditions do not suggest whether this small sum of money was lost or deliberately hid-
den at some point of danger. In the second half of the 15th century, the Archbishop of Riga
Henning Scharpenberg often stayed in Turaida Castle. The subsequent Archbishop Silvester
Stodewescher (1448–1479), after taking up his post, dismissed the Turaida bailiff.
1
*Maybe
these events of 1449 were the reason for hiding money. Usually money savings were hidden
at some point of danger or in a period of chaotic political situation. Coins of Turaida Hoard
* Here and further, see references in the Latvian part of the text (pp. 13–33).