Hacksilver

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These hacksilver fragments, from ingots, bracelets, a brooch, a chain 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.

The ingots have been hammered on all sides. Some of the rod fragments appear unused, and may have been discarded by a craftsmen or not fully finished. Nevertheless, even these have small nicks, as had most of the hacksilver.

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. The nicking indicates that these fragments had circulated as bullion.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-112-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 101
• Date: Deposited between 950 and 970
  
• Material: Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  Brooch / ring / fragment
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  
• Event:
• Description: One of forty four fragments of brooches and rings which include two globular ends of large brooches and a portion of knitted silver wire, from Skaill
  One of forty four fragments of brooches and rings which include two globular ends of large brooches and a portion of knitted silver wire, from Skaill
  One of forty four fragments of brooches and rings which include two globular ends of large brooches and a portion of knitted silver wire, from Skaill
  One of forty four fragments of brooches and rings which include two globular ends of large brooches and a portion of knitted silver wire, from Skaill
  One of forty four fragments of brooches and rings which include two globular ends of large brooches and a portion of knitted silver wire, from Skaill
  One of forty four fragments of brooches and rings which include two globular ends of large brooches and a portion of knitted silver wire, from Skaill
  One of forty four fragments of brooches and rings which include two globular ends of large brooches and a portion of knitted silver wire, from Skaill
  One of forty four fragments of brooches and rings which include two globular ends of large brooches and a portion of knitted silver wire, from Skaill
  One of forty four fragments of brooches and rings which include two globular ends of large brooches and a portion of knitted silver wire, from Skaill
  One of forty four fragments of brooches and rings which include two globular ends of large brooches and a portion of knitted silver wire, from Skaill
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James. The Viking-age gold and silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100), 1995, pp 121-2. 
• Translations:
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