Pin and brooch pin (fragment)

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This silver ring-headed pin and fragment of a brooch pin were found at Skaill at Sandwick in Orkney. They are part of the largest Viking Age silver hoard found in Scotland, buried between 950 and 970.

The ring-headed pin has been bent (which led to its original identification as a fish hook). The pin-head is a rectangle with faceted sides, a shape common in Viking Age finds from Dublin. It has lightly incised decoration.

The brooch pin fragment would have been used with a large penannular brooch. A number of complete and fragmentary brooches of this type were found in the hoard. It has been decorated with a triangular stamp containing a pellet.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-108-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 58
• Date: Deposited between 950 and 970
  
• Material: Circular looped head
  Silver
  Ingot
  Pin
  
• Dimensions: 4.00" L
  
• What: Ingot
  Pin
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  
• Event:
• Description: Pin with circular looped head, from Skaill
  Silver ingot from Skaill
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James. The Viking-age gold and silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100), 1995, pp 34-6, 117-8. 
• Translations:
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