Money in Denmark - from the Vikings until today
The northern Germanic peoples encountered money relatively late. Only in the 5th and 6th centuries did larger quantities of precious metals come to northern Europe. Gold soon became very cherished; it was not put into circulation, however, but treasured and carefully protected. Until this day, sagas such as the saga of the Nibelung or the epic poem of Beowulf give account of the northern Germanic hoards of gold.