The Myth of Loki's Coin
Summary
Supposedly, early in the Viking Age, the gods occasionally walked the Earth beside the other Races in the Mortal Realm. One god, in particular, was known to visit the Mortals often.
Loki, the god of mischief and fire, was fond of spending time on Earth and could oft be found weaving magic throughout Midgard, if one knew where to look. Legend has it, during one of his many visits to Earth, Loki, disguised as a child, was attacked by Men seeking revenge against one of his pranks. Before he could escape by using his magic, however, a great warrior, an elderly Valkyrie jumped out of the bushes and defended him, making quick work of dispatching the Men. Loki was impressed by the woman's fighting and intrigued by a Mortal acting selflessly.
There is some debate as to what happened next, but it is generally believed that Loki encountered the Valkyrie several more times during his visits to Midgard, quickly befriending her and her family. At some point, he Blessed the woman, her Human husband and their hybrid son. When his father called him back home, Loki wanted to gift the woman and her family with something more tangible to represent his fondness for them. After revealing his true identity to the Valkyrie, he took a simple lead ingot from their house and created the Coin to give to the woman as a parting gift and to protect her family.
That Coin was meant to be passed down to the woman's son after her death. Unfortunately, the Valkyrie died one night, of natural causes, whilst her family was away. This left her house empty for a burglar to break in and take all of the families valuables. This included Loki's Coin.
Unlike the Valkyrie, however, the burglar did not receive good luck. It is said that the rest of the burglar's short life was filled with misery until he was eaten alive by wolves.
From then on, the Coin is said to have been passed from carrier to carrier, some gaining good luck, others receiving only bad, until, one day, when the Coin disappeared without a trace.
Legend has it, the Coin will only stay with a bearer that is descended from its original owner, the kind Valkyrie warrior. That is, if it can be found.
Spread
Originating in Scandinavia, the myth of Loki's blessed Coin soon spread around the world as the Vikings journeyed throughout Europe, Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland. As the years passed, those who heard the tale of the lucky Coin and the fortunes that had befallen the family who was first gifted it, continued to speak of the legends with those who had not heard them before.
In the present, however, the myth is not widely believed in outside of the Scandinavian region, due to failing belief in the gods' existence, and is, in fact, not well known anymore.
Cultural Reception
There are still many in the Scandinavian region, particularly the Valkyrn, who believe in the origins of the myth. Those who still believe in the Norse gods are particularly fond of this tale as it represents the goodwill of their deities and reminds them of the times when their gods walked amongst them.
In Art
Loki's Coin is often depicted in Old Scandinavian art as a representation of the two sides of luck.
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