TPO 44

The article states that the european silver coin which was discovered at a native american site is a historical fake and provides three reasons of support. However, the professor explains that the coin is not fake and represents a great evidence that the Norse actually came into contact with native americans a thousand years ago. She refutes each of the author's reasons.

First of all, the reading claims that the site where the coin was found is far way from ant Norse settlements. The professor refutes this point by mentioning that in addition to the coin, many other objects have also been found far away from the Norse's habitants. She suggests that this fact has a good historical explanation. She elaborates on this by saying that native americans used to travel within the north america, and they also loved obtaining objects. So they might have reached the Norse settlements and brought back the coin with them.

Secondly, the article posits that no other coins have been found at the Norse settlement. The professor challenges this point by saying that not finding any other coins doesn't necessarily mean that the coin is a historical fake. She explains that the canadian site was not a permanent settlement for the Norse and they eventually went back to europe. So, it is possible that the Norse have packed their valuable possessions and brought them back with them.

Finally, the article says that since the Norse understood that the coins don’t have their value as money in north america, so they wouldn't have bothered to bring the coins with them in the first place. The professor states that although north americans didn't view coins as money, but they were interested in attractive and appealing objects. She elaborates on this by saying that the north americans may have used coins to build jewelry and so it is possible that the Norse used coins to trade with north americans.