Penning, Sigtuna, Olof Skötkonung, circa 1000–1020

In the Viking Age, people tested silver objects to make sure they had a high silver content.

A sharp object such as a knife was used to make tiny marks in the silver. Sometimes a few isolated pecks on the smooth surface of the coin were enough. Sometimes the coin was folded, and several pecks were made in a row along the folded edge. Some coins have more than a hundred marks in them. The aim of this was to avoid counterfeiting. Jewellery and silver pieces were also tested like this.

Image rights: Helena Bonnevier, Ekonomiska museet - Kungliga myntkabinettet/SHM (CC BY 4.0)

Object number: 119675_KMK

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