Metal detectorist Kalle Lappinen discovered an exceptionally large Late Iron Age coin hoard near the centre of Sysmä on Thursday, 3 September 2026. The findspot was examined the following day, and the hoard was recovered under the supervision of Esko Tikkala, an archaeologist from the regional museum responsible for archaeological heritage in the area. It is the largest Late Iron Age coin hoard discovered in Finland to date.

In addition to silver coins, the hoard contains a fragment of hacksilver, a silver bracelet, a silver fitting and a silver bead. The coins and objects had been placed in two birch-bark containers, which were buried approximately 45 centimetres below ground, among stones and about 12 metres apart.

The total weight of the coins recovered is approximately 4.5 kilograms. They have not yet been cleaned, separated or counted, meaning that their precise weight, number and more accurate dating will only be established through further study. It is already clear, however, that the hoard contains thousands of coins.

Until now, the largest known Viking-Age coin hoard in Finland was the hoard discovered at Nousiainen in 1895. It contains approximately 1,700 coins as well as other objects, with a combined weight of around 2.2 kilograms.