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The legendary figure of Ragnar Lodbrok is featured on the third coin in the Warriors Through Time series, a collection that explores different eras of history through some of its most famous warriors. After delving into the American Wild West and the military world of ancient Sparta, the series now turns its attention to the Viking Age with a 2-ounce silver coin characterized by its pronounced relief, antique finish, and selective application of gold.
The collection, developed by Precious Metal Collectors, features a warrior on each coin, surrounded by his weapons, armor, and other iconic objects, much like an antique action figure presented with all its accessories. This approach allows for a wealth of detail to be packed into a relatively small area while simultaneously establishing a cohesive identity for all the coins in the series.
Ragnar Lodbrok
The new coin is dedicated to Ragnar Lodbrok, one of the most recognizable figures in Scandinavian lore. His story occupies a space between history and legend, as the main narratives about his life come from sagas written several centuries after the time in which he supposedly lived. For this reason, it is uncertain whether Ragnar was truly a single Viking leader or whether his identity was constructed by combining the exploits attributed to different Norse leaders of the 9th century.
The stories describe Ragnar as a powerful king and warrior who led expeditions against various territories in England and the Frankish kingdom. They also present him as a descendant of ancient Scandinavian royal lineages and as the father of several of the most famous warriors of the Viking Age, including Björn Ironside, Ivar the Boneless, Ubbe, Halfdan, and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye.
One of the historical events traditionally linked to Ragnar is the great Viking attack on Paris in 845. During that campaign, a fleet of numerous ships sailed up the Seine River, defeated the Frankish forces, and reached the city. King Charles the Bald ended up paying a substantial tribute to secure the invaders' withdrawal. Contemporary sources identify the expedition's commander as a leader named Reginherus, whose possible connection to the Ragnar of the sagas remains a subject of debate among historians.
His death, too, belongs primarily to the realm of legend. According to several medieval accounts, Ragnar was captured during an expedition against the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria and executed on the orders of King Ælla, who supposedly threw him into a pit of snakes. His last words allegedly foretold the vengeance of his sons, likened to young boars that would roar upon learning of their father's death.
The legend continues with the arrival in England of the so-called Great Heathen Army, a massive Viking force that began its invasion in 865. The sagas interpreted this campaign as a reprisal led by Ragnar's sons against those responsible for his execution. Although the true motives for the invasion were surely more complex, the narrative helped to make Ragnar a central figure in the Viking imagination.
Over time, Ragnar Lodbrok acquired a prominence that far surpassed medieval sources. Literature, film, video games, and especially contemporary television productions have popularized an image of the character as an explorer, conqueror, and military leader.
DESIGN
Reverse
The reverse features an elaborate composition dominated by Ragnar Lodbrok, depicted full-length as an imposing Viking warrior. The figure wears heavy, richly ornamented armor, arm and leg guards, furs over his shoulders, and a helmet topped with two large horns.
On either side of Ragnar is displayed an extensive arsenal consisting of axes of varying sizes, spears, hammers, a sword, a mace with a chain, and other weapons of Scandinavian inspiration. In the lower right corner is a large, elongated shield decorated with interlaced patterns.
The arrangement of all these elements deliberately evokes the presentation of a collectible figure accompanied by its accessories. Ragnar occupies the center of the scene, while the weapons are neatly distributed around him against a stony-looking background.
Among all the elements, a ceremonial horn covered with selective gilding stands out, located to the right of the figure. Its intense color contrasts with the dark and silvery tones produced by the antique finish, making it the main focal point of the composition.
This horn is symbolically linked to the Gjallarhorn, one of the most well-known objects in Norse mythology. According to mythological sources, it belonged to the god Heimdall, who was responsible for guarding the Bifröst bridge and alerting the gods to the arrival of their enemies. The sound of the Gjallarhorn would announce the beginning of Ragnarök, the final battle in which the fate of the gods and the world would be decided.
Obverse
The obverse abandons the static presentation to show a combat scene where Ragnar appears in the background, launching himself into battle with a ferocious expression.
In the foreground stands a large Viking shield decorated with runic characters. In the center of this is the coat of arms of Samoa, accompanied by the inscription "SAMOA" and the text "Fa'avae i le Atua Samoa" (Samoa is founded on God).
The antique finish of this coin deliberately darkens the deeper areas of the relief to accentuate the contours of the figures, weapons, furs, and inscriptions. This combination gives the coin an aged appearance and allows the numerous elements of the design to be clearly distinguished. The gilding of the horn also introduces a visual contrast that is repeated in a different way in each coin of the collection.
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PRESENTATION
Each copy includes an individual serial number and comes with its corresponding certificate of authenticity. The presentation is completed with an illustrated box featuring an image of a Viking warrior and the series name.
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Issuing country Samoa
Year of issue 2025
Face value 5 logging
Metal 999 fine silver
Weight 62.2 grams (2 troy ounces)
Dimensions 55 × 43 mm
Finish Antique with selective gilding
Print run 399 copies
Presentation Box and certificate of authenticity
Collection Warriors Through Time
Previous coins from "Warriors Through Time"
Before delving into the Viking Age, Warriors Through Time had already released two other coins dedicated to figures from very different historical periods. All three share the same rectangular format, a weight of 2 ounces, an antique finish, a face value of 5 tala, and a limited mintage of 399 units.
The Cowboy
The collection began with The Cowboy, a coin inspired by Pat Garrett, one of the most well-known figures of the American Wild West. Garrett served as sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico, and is remembered primarily for killing the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid in July 1881.
The Spartan
The second coin is dedicated to the world of ancient Sparta and features King Leonidas I, remembered for his participation in the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. During that battle, a Greek force led by Leonidas attempted to halt the advance of the enormous Persian army commanded by Xerxes I. The resistance of the Spartans and their allies made the battle one of the most important military episodes of antiquity.
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