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Hacksilver

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from Skaill, Sandwick, Orkney

Hacksilver
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These hacksilver fragments, from an ingot, bracelets, a finger ring, a neck ring and unidentified objects, 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.

All the objects have been cut, and were kept in the hoard for their bullion value. Most have nicks - small cuts made to test the silver purity during circulation.

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 tender.

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