Hack silver
Date Added: 19 December 2014
Year: 1200
Institution Name: dnhhl
Cat No: ◀ | 2014_043_12 | ▶
Picture No: 12173
A piece of hack silver Part of an assemblage of metal detector finds from the area around Ospisdale. This group of medieval and later finds can be compared to the larger assemblage found several years ago around Dornoch as many of the objects are of the same type and age. [Grid Ref: NH 70668 88556]
Dimensions: Length17 mm - Width 15 mm depth 7 mm
1 Comment
Form Goes Here
Period/Culture: Early Historic
Date: 9th-10th Century
A piece of Early Historic hack silver, cut from a larger bar shaped ingot. Before the introduction of coinage silver ingots were the standard way to store wealth for trade or for use by silversmiths. In a British context they are most often associated with Viking activity, although the slightly later adoption of coinage in Scotland (by the 12th century) suggests that ingots may have remained in use rather longer. A similar piece of hacksilver (this one a piece of Viking bracelet, TT case 84/10) was found closer to Dornoch and is now in Dornoch Historylinks Museum. A Viking tortoiseshell brooch was also discovered in Ospisdale in 1830 (acquired for NMAS in 1933).
As with the earlier find from Dornoch, these are unusual as single finds and normally comprise part of a hoard. Metal detecting has been particular useful at turning up the single finds which may represent loss during trade rather than hoarding practices.
Comment left on 14 June 2015 at 15:00 by Pete Webber Many thanks for posting this information Administrator