from Skaill, Sandwick, Orkney

Hacksilver

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:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland X.IL 101
Date:	Deposited between 950 and 970
Material:
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.
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