After a long winter far north of the polar circle, the snow is still thick in Finnmark. Still, I had to get the season started somehow, so I went to the beach at Lathari (Yes, we have a beach here too) -the only detectable site in Alta in late April.
As usual, I found coins dated from the 60's to present. When I had detected for a few hours, and was on my way back to my car, I got a signal much like all the other coins I found. A little grey disc came out of the sand, and my first thought was 2 shillings 1600's. But by closer inspection I saw that this was much older.
I held in my hand a Edward 1 Longcross penny! I contacted the proper authorities by email, and they could tell me that this was the oldest coin found in Finnmark, and the northernmost long cross penny found not only in Norway, but in the world. The coin is now delivered to the county, coins older than 1650 is not "keepers" in Norway.
Jahn - Norway