BERLIN -- Archaeologists discovered 23 old Persian coins from the Sassanid era on the southeastern Swedish island of Gotland, the press reported here Friday.

The latest find, regarded as the biggest archaeological sensation of the century, contained Persian and Byzantine coins in a Viking treasure box which was hidden on the island.

The oldest Persian coin in the Viking treasure goes back to 538 A.D. and was specially designed for a king of the Sassanid empire.

The discovery is vivid proof that Vikings did sail as far as the Middle East region.

Arabian coins were also the common currency in Scandinavia for 1000 years.