Curmsun disc

Curmsun Disc is a concave golden disc of a weight of 25.23 grams (0.890 oz) and a diameter of 4.5 centimetres (1.8 in). The Danish Viking king, Harald Bluetooth, is mentioned in the inscription of the disc.

Curmsun represents the king's patronymic (son of Gorm the Old), in standardized Old Norse Gormsson.

The Curmsun disc was reportedly found as part of a Viking Age hoard discovered in 1841 in the crypt of the ruined church at Groß- Weckow (after 1945 Wiejkowo) village in Pomerania (now part of Gmina Wolin, Poland), just east of the bank of the river Dievenow (now Dziwna), and near the place where the semi-legendary Viking stronghold of Jomsborg stood between the 960s and 1043. The discovery was made by one Heinrich, who some years later emigrated to New York City and changed his name to Henry Boldt. The Curmsun disc was left in the crypt and fell into oblivion until 1945 when a Polish army major, Stefan Sielski, and his brother Michal, entered the crypt and seized what was left of the Viking hoard of 1841. The disc did not appear to be made of gold and was thus placed in a box with old buttons. In 2014, Michal Sielski's 11-year-old great-granddaughter showed the disc to her history teacher. The discovery of the disc was reported in the press on 5 December 2014.

Researchers have interpreted the inscription on the obverse as: "+ARALD CVRMSVN+ REX AD TANER+SCON+JVMN+CIV ALDIN+".

A translation of the inscription reads: "Harald Gormsøn king of Danes, Scania, Jomsborg, town Aldinburg (Oldenburg in Holstein)".

On the reverse there is an octagonal ridge, which runs around the edge of the object. In the center of the octagonal ridge there is a Latin cross. There are four dots around the Latin cross. Similar dot markings are common on coins, even on coins from the late 900s. The four dots could possibly symbolize the four evangelists, whose symbols in the Middle Ages had strong associations with the Christ symbolism of the cross.

Danish anthropologist, Karen Schousboe, believes that the Curmsun Disc could have been a wedding gift during Harald Bluetooth´s second marriage, created in the 960s. K. Schousboe also sees a connection to 10th-12th century Byzantine talismans.

Pontus Weman Tell has a theory that the Curmsun Disc had been ordered as a golden seal by Theophanu to confirm or reinstall Harald Bluetooth on the throne. Through a philological analysis he concludes that the disc has most likely been produced before the introduction of the g-rune as Gormson is transliterated as CVRMSVN and not as GVRMSVN. Furthermore, the use of Old Norse like the word Taner on the Curmsun Disc ends in coin inscriptions in the beginning of the 11th century which strengthens a manufacturing date before year 1000. Empress Theophanu who officially took over regency in the Holy Roman Empire in 985 could have ordered the Curmsun Disc as a decree to confirm or reinstall Harald on the throne to safeguard her minor son´s interest.

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Wikipedia