Rod (fragments)

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These fragments of silver rods, cut from a brooch pinhead, bracelets, and unidentified objects, are part of the largest Viking Age silver hoard found in Scotland. The hoard was buried at Skaill at Sandwick in Orkney sometime between 950 and 970.

Most of the fragments are plain. The majority have nicks, small cuts made to test silver purity when the silver exchanged hands.

In the Viking world, silver and, to a lesser extent, gold were used as a medium of exchange, weighed on balances. Any type of silver, complete objects or hacksilver, was valid as bullion. Much of the silver was nicked and bent to test its purity.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-043-625-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 78
• Date: Deposited between 950 and 970
  
• Material: Brooch / ring / fragment
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Brooch / ring / fragment
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  
• Event:
• Description: One of forty four fragments of brooches and rings which include two globular ends of large brooches and a portion of knitted silver wire, from Skaill
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James. The Viking-age gold and silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100). Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland, 1995, pp. 34-48, 120-1. 
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