Here is a piece I picked up just for the cool design:

The medallion is the same on both sides. The design is “Vegvisir”, also known as “The Viking Compass” or “Norse Compass”. It is an interesting design which certainly looks Viking: an 8 pointed symbol with different designs on each arm made up of curves, circles and straight lines. It has Runic lettering around the edge which reads:

“Beri maður stafi þessa á sér villist maður ekki í hríðum né vondu veðri þó ókunnugur sá.”

“Carry this sign with you and you won’t get lost in storms or bad weather, even in unfamiliar surroundings” (translation: Justin Foster).

The only problem is, Vegvisir, isn’t Viking, it isn’t nearly old enough for a start. The design was originally “featured alongside a number of other galdrastafir (magical staves) in the Huld Manuscript, which was written in Iceland by Geir Vigfusson in 1860”. That description and information courtesy LifeInNorway.net.

My piece is a modern tourist type piece, so I wondered if you could get an actual coin with this design on it?

While there isn’t a circulating coin with this symbol, there are these two #Niue non-circulating $5, from 2020 and 2021 respectively:

What is the most interesting design you have on a coin or token? Share in the comments!