Viking Hacksilver

Hacksilver are cut pieces of precious metals which were used as bullion or currency by weight in antiquity.

Hacksilver enabled larger pieces of silver such as tableware, cups, church objects and ignots to be distributed after raids and used for trade. many pieces of hack silver appear to have originally been jewellery such as arm bands. 

Hacksilver appears to be most common among Viking and Rus cultures probably as a result of their successful raiding and trading. It has been theorised that Anglo-Saxon hoards are more likely to contain whole objects whereas Viking hoards are more likely to contains similar objects which have been broken apart for trading.

Many treasure hoards found in England contain a mixture of hacksilver or ingots.

Hack silver was found in the following Viking hoards in Britain and continues to be found in new hoards as they are located:

Cuerdale Hoard: early 10th century

Bedale Hoard: late 9th to early 10th century

Huxley Hoard: early 10th century

Silverdale Hoard: late 9th to early 10th century

Vale of York / Harrogate Hoard: 10^th century

Made from high quality lead free pewter.

Our hacksilver is hand hammered and cut by a passionate reenactor. Each bar measures approximately 75mm by 11mm by 9mm in size and weighs approximately 42 grams. Due to the handmade nature of this product size and weight may vary, 

The current batch are straight like the bar in the second photo and not curved.

Price is for one bar.