Bracelets

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These five silver bracelets are part of a hoard of eight such bracelets buried in a cist at Kirk o' Banks at Rattar in Caithness. They are examples of a distinctive bracelet type common in Viking Age Scotland. Unusually, these were found in a burial.

The simple bracelets, of a type called 'ring-money', are plain. All have nicks, small cuts made to test silver purity when the silver exchanged hands.

'Ring-money' highlights the overlap between ornament and bullion. They could be worn to display wealth, but when needed could be used as payment, cut up if necessary, and weighed on a balance. Some were manufactured to an approximate weight standard.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-043-661-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 118
• Date: Deposited in the 10th or 11th century
  
• Material: Silver
  Silver
  Silver
  Silver
  Silver
  Ring, penannular
  Ring, penannular
  Ring, penannular
  Ring, penannular
  Ring, penannular
  
• Dimensions: 3" D
  3.00" D
  3.00" D
  3.00" D
  3.00" D
  
• What: Ring, penannular
  Ring, penannular
  Ring, penannular
  Ring, penannular
  Ring, penannular
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Caithness, Dunnet, Ratter, Kirk o' Banks
  Scotland, Caithness, Dunnet, Ratter, Kirk o' Banks
  Scotland, Caithness, Dunnet, Ratter, Kirk o' Banks
  Scotland, Caithness, Dunnet, Ratter, Kirk o' Banks
  Scotland, Caithness, Dunnet, Ratter, Kirk o' Banks
  
• Event:
• Description: Silver penannular ring from a Viking ring money hoard found at Kirk o' Banks, Caithness
  Silver penannular ring from a Viking ring money hoard found at Kirk o' Banks, Caithness
  Silver penannular ring from a Viking ring money hoard found at Kirk o' Banks, Caithness
  Silver penannular ring from a Viking ring money hoard found at Kirk o' Banks, Caithness
  Silver penannular ring from a Viking ring money hoard found at Kirk o' Banks, Caithness
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James. The Viking-age gold and silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100). Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland, 1995, pp. 57-9, 129-30. 
• Translations:
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