From a numismatic point of view the Middle Ages in Sweden starts c.
1140. A total of c. 219,000 coins occur in hoards, single finds, and
cummulative finds up to c. 1520. The map shows the eographical
distribution of the hoards. There are three hoards with 10,000 coins or
more; Brunnsgården, Östergötland 1786 (c. 24,300 pcs. - t.pq. c. 1277);
Johannes bloc, Västerås, Västmanland 1973 (16,231 pcs. - t.pq. 1518);
Årbol, Dalsland 1798 (c. 10,000 pcs. - t.pq. 1198). Otherwise there are
concentrations of finds on Gotland and Öland as well as in Scania
(Skåne), Västergötland, Östergötland, and the Mälar valley. All in all
there are surprisingly few hoards. This is partly due to the fact that
on the Swedish mainland (as well in the then Danish provinces of Scania, Blekinge, and Halland) recoinages were undertaken until the mid-14th. c. This made it unprofitable to save coins as a means of wealth.