Bracelets

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These silver bracelets were found at Skaill at Sandwick in Orkney, and are part of the largest Viking Age silver hoard found in Scotland. The hoard contained 27 complete bracelets of this type, often called 'ring-money', together with a number of fragments.

The bracelets are all plain, two made from lozenge-sectioned rods and two from circular-sectioned rods. The top one is a particularly large example of 'ring-money'. Three have nicks - small cuts to test silver purity.

The Skaill hoard is the earliest hoard which can be dated from coins to contain 'ring-money'. Almost all the varieties are represented, included plain and stamped examples. The rods used in their manufacture had circular, lozenge-shaped and octagonal sections.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-107-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 32
• Date: Deposited between 950 and 970
  
• Material: Plain
  Plain
  Plain
  Silver, plain
  Ring, penannular
  Ring, penannular
  Ring, penannular
  Ring, penannular
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Ring, penannular
  Ring, penannular
  Ring, penannular
  Ring, penannular
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  
• Event:
• Description: Plain penannular ring from Skaill
  Plain penannular ring from Skaill
  Plain penannular ring from Skaill
  Plain penannular ring from Skaill
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James. The Viking-age gold and silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100), 1995, pp 38-40, 115-6. 
• Translations:
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