Bracelets of silver

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These two silver bracelets are part of the large Viking Age silver hoard found at Burray in Orkney, deposited between around 997 and 1010. They are examples of a distinctive bracelet type common in Scotland, called 'ring-money'.

One bracelet has four nicks, where it has been cut to test the purity of its silver during its circulation. In fact, analysis has shown it is of much less pure silver than the other bracelet which has no nicks. They weigh 51.7 and 72.3 grams.

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

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-622-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 251
• Date: 997 - 1010 AD
  997 - 1010 AD
  Deposited around 997 and 1010
  
• Material: Silver; small straight bar
  Silver; small straight bar
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  
• Event:
• Description: Silver arm ring from the Burray hoard, 997 - 1010 AD
  Silver arm ring from the Burray hoard, 997 - 1010 AD
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James. The Viking-age gold and silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100), 1995, pp. 51-2, 131-41. 
• Translations:
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