A 9th century coin pendant featuring John the Baptist discovered by a metal detectorist near Dunton, Norfolk, has no parallels from the period.

It’s an imitation of a Carolingian solidus perhaps of Frisian origin. The obverse depicts a bearded man in profile inscribed “IOAN” on the left side. The reverse has a cross in the center of a circle of pellets with an inscription around the border that reads “+ BABTIS […]T EVVAN.” These inscriptions together translate to “John, Baptist and Evangelist.”

The lettering style imitates Carolingian coins dating to the 860s or 870s, so it was likely produced around that time. The coins minted by the powerful Carolingian kings of Western Europe were considered reliable currency for trade and circulated widely all the way up to the North Sea coasts of Germany, the Netherlands, Britain, Denmark and Norway. As a result, there were attempts in these areas to imitate the coinage, and the imitations themselves became valued enough to be converted into jewelry rather than used as payment.

There was no Carolingian John the Baptist issue, however, which is why numismatist Simon Coupland describes the find as “fascinating, unique and intriguing”.

“But a figure of John the Baptist on a coin is so unusual and remarkable – I don’t know of another John the Baptist from the Carolingian period; it’s bizarre – it’s not like anything else I know.” […]

“If you look at who is pictured on portrait coins of the 9th Century in Western Europe it is the king, but not John, not Christ – that is a Byzantine Empire thing,” he said.

“And these imitations of gold solidus tend to be made by Scandinavians, who are not Christian at this point – so what are they doing depicting John the Baptist?”

The pendant is currently going through the process of being declared treasure. When the assessment is complete, the Norwich Castle Museum hopes to acquire the mysterious object.