If there are Vikings around, there are always goods to buy - or sell - or lose.

The richer the goods, the greater the danger.

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Prices and Money in the Viking Age
England, ca. 1000 AD

	The data in the following table is adapted from Viking Weapons and Warfare (2000 AD) by J. Kim Siddorn. Kim's book contains a lot of information for reenactors and amateur historians found nowhere else. It is highly recommended.
L: British pounds	s: shillings	d: pence	g: grams of silver	£: UK pounds	$: US dollars
12 pence (d) = 1 shilling (s)		20 shillings (s) = 1 pound (L)		240 pence (d) = 1 pound (L)
	B: Britain	W: Western Europe	C: Central Europe	N: Northern Europe

Goods	Region	Value, ca. 1000 AD	Silver	£  UK (2000 value)	$ US (2024 Exchange rate)
King's Hunting Dog, untrained	B	120 d	186 g	£ 2,400	$ 3,000
King's Hunting Dog, 1 yr. old	B	60 d	93 g	£ 1,200	$ 1,500
King's Hunting Dog, young	B	30 d	46 g	£ 600	$ 750
King's Lap Dog	B	1 L	372 g	£ 4,800	$ 6,000
Stranger's or Dunghill Dog	B	4 d	6 g	£ 80	$ 100
Ox	E	80.5 d	125 g	£ 1,610	$ 2,013
Ox	C	88.5 d	137 g	£ 1,770	$ 2,213
Old Swarm of bees	B	24 d	37 g	£ 480	$ 600
Virgin swarm of bees	B	16 d	25 g	£ 320	$ 400
Swarm of bees from a second swarm	B	8 d	12 g	£ 160	$ 200
Swarm of bees from virgin swarm	B	12 d	18 g	£ 240	$ 300
Second swarm of bees	B	12 d	18 g	£ 240	$ 300
Sparrow hawk nest	B	24 d	37 g	£ 480	$ 600
Unfledged peregrine	B	120 d	186 g	£ 2,400	$ 3,000
Unfledged sparrow hawk	B	12 d	18 g	£ 240	$ 300
Pig	E	20 d	30 g	£ 600	$ 750
Sheep	E	10 d	15 g	£ 300	$ 375
Male slave	N	197.5 d	306 g	£ 3,950	$ 4,938
Arms and Armour	Region	Value, ca. 1000 AD	Silver	£  UK (2000 value)	$ US (2024 Exchange rate)
Helmet	C	53 s	410 g	£ 5,300	$ 6,625
Mailshirt	C	529 d	820 g	£ 10,580	$ 13,225
Shield and spear	C	88.5 d	137 g	£ 1,770	$ 2,213
Spear	W	33 d	51 g	£ 660	$ 825
Sword	W	81.25 d	126 g	£ 1,625	$ 2,031
Sword	B	240 s	1860 g	£ 24,000	$ 30,000
Sword and scabbard	C	308.5 d	478 g	£ 6,170	$ 7,713
Fines, etc.	Region	Value, ca. 1000 AD	Silver	£  UK (2000 value)	$ US (2024 Exchange rate)
Accepting service of another's ceorl	B	120 s	930 g	£ 12,000	$ 15,000
Binding an innocent ceorl	B	10 s	77 g	£ 1,000	$ 1,250
Binding an innocent ceorl and shaving him like a priest	B	60 s	465 g	£ 6,000	$ 7,500
Ceorl entering into illicit union	B	50 s	387 g	£ 5,000	$ 6,250
Ceorl neglecting fyrd duty	B	30 s	232 g	£ 3,000	$ 3,750
Ceorl seeking new lord	B	60 s	465 g	£ 6,000	$ 7,500
Failure to perform fyrd duty	B	40-50 s	310-387 g	£ 4,000	$ 5,000
Fighting (not in war)	B	120 s	920 g	£ 12,000	$ 15,000
Freeman working on a Sunday	B	60 s	465 g	£ 6,000	$ 7,500
Holding a woman's breast	B	5 s	39 g	£ 500	$ 625
Landless thegn neglecting fyrd duty	B	60 s	465 g	£ 6,000	$ 7,500
Not baptising child within 30 days of birth	B	30 s	232 g	£ 3,000	$ 3,750
Priest working on a Sunday	B	120 s	930 g	£ 12,000	$ 15,000
Ordering a slave to work on a Sunday	B	30 s	232 g	£ 3,000	$ 3,750
Raping a female slave	B	65 s	504 g	£ 6,500	$ 8,125
Removing a nun from a nunnery without permission	B	120 s	930 g	£   12,000	$ 15,000
Reward for catching thief	B	10 s	77 g	£ 1,000	$ 1,250
Seducing a free woman	B	60 s	465 g	£ 6,000	$ 7,500
Thegn entering into a illicit union	B	100 s	775 g	£ 10,000	$ 12,500
Thegn neglecting fyrd duty	B	120 s	930 g	£ 12,000	$ 15,000 (+ land)
Throw a woman down but not lie with her	B	10 s	77 g	£ 1,000	$ 1,250
Violation of an archbishop's protection	B	3 L	1,116 g	£ 14,400	$ 18,000
Violation of bishop/eolderman's protection	B	2 L	744 g	£ 9,600	$ 12,000
Violation of ceorl's protection	B	6 s	46 g	£ 600	$ 750
Violation of church's protection	B	50 s	387 g	£ 5,000	$ 6,250
Violation of the king's protection	B	5 L	1,860 g	£ 24,000	$ 30,000
Here's an accompanying paragraph from Kim Siddorn's book that provides some pertinent information about the English coinage noted above: "In England, the only coin in general circulation was the silver penny. It was quite common to cut coins in half or in quarters, something entirely necessary in a system based upon one coin. The Norse term 'forthing' entered the language to define the smallest coin in later circulation, the farthing. It was of very pure metal and was kept that way by a series of draconian legal measures designed to remove bits of the moneyer's body with sharp implements if he showed a predilection for adding a little lead to his silver or trimming them too closely. It was this that the Vikings came for. Minted silver coin was slightly more valuable than the simple weight as English money was accepted all over Europe - something else that has changed with the passing years. Whilst you will find mention of pounds and shillings, these are accounting terms only and the coins did not exist."

 Primary source: Viking Weapons and Warfare (2000 AD) by J. Kim Siddorn, Tempus Publishing, Ltd., ISBN 0-7524-1419-4

Viking Coinage Denominations

Viking Age coinage was based on a silver weight system.

Coins	Equivalence
1 penningar	4 grams of silver
1 ertag	8 grams of silver
1 aurar (plural of eyrir)	24.5 - 26.4 grams of silver
1 Mark	196 grams of silver
40 penningar	1 Mark
24 ertag	1 Mark
8 aurar	1 Mark
1 aurar = 1 ertag	6 penningar
1 eyrir	2 penningar

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Coins of the Viking Age

The whole point of being a Viking was to collect treasure - most frequently in the form of coins. The geographical source and stamped denomination of those coins was almost completely irrelevant. The overwhelming concern was the amount of silver or gold they contained. Professor Kenneth W. Harl of Tulane University has estimated that during the Viking Age 50 million silver coins from England and France alone made their way to the Viking homelands. And Viking rulers stamped out a few of their own... But what did the coins of the period look like? The following collection of coin images and information is adapted from www.wolfsheadgallery.com. Note that the market values and number of extant examples indicated for the coins are just one-time snapshots included for general interest and may not be reflective of current values. Check the Wolf's Head Gallery web site for current information.

Viking Coins

Viking Northumbria, 885-915. Cnut, Penny. York mint. “Cunnetti” issue. Patriarchal cross. Rv: Small cross, “CUNNETTI”. N.501. EF $1150.00

Viking Northumbria, 885-915. Cnut, Penny. York mint. “Ebraice”. Patriarchal cross. Rv: Small cross, “EBIAICE CIV”. N.497. EF $1150.00

Viking Danelaw. c. 900. Penny. “Two Line, Athelstan Imitation” issue. Small cross, “+AEFTIAEL+”. Rv: “LCVT VEEMS” in two lines. BMC- Very rare. aEF $3750.00

Viking Northumbria, Sihtric II Caoch, 921-927. Penny, St. Peter coinage. York mint. “Sword Hammer” issue. Sword r., “SCIII PTRIIIO” in two lines. Rv: Hammer of Thor, “ERIYITIP”. N.556. Extremely rare. Toned, and an exceptional example. EF $9,750.00

Denmark, Harald Gormsson, Blatand, 940-86. Bracteate, Hedeby mint, c. 950. Stylized TMR, hidden face, cross. Rv: Hidden face, long axe. Hbg 1. An exceptional example of a Very rare issue. EF $3750.00 First Christian king of Denmark and grandfather of Cnut. His achievements are recorded on the Jelling rune-stone. Blatand refers to his distinctive dark hair, and was later mis-translated as Bluetooth.

Denmark, Harald Gormsson, Blatand, 940-86. Halv-Bracteate, Jelling mint, c. 950. Flowing linear hidden face in boat. Rv: Cross crosslet, annulets. Hbg 2. Very rare. EF $3750.00

Viking Ireland, Hiberno-Norse Kings, Sihtric Anlafsson. Penny. Phase I, c. 997. Dublin mint. Bare headed bust l., SIHTRIC REX DYFLN. Rv: Long cross, FAEREMIN MO DYFLI. S.6103. Extremely rare. Viking era plug at 6. aEF SOLD

Viking Ireland, Hiberno-Norse Kings, Sihtric Anlafsson. Penny. Phase I, c. 997. Dublin mint. Bare headed bust l., SIHTRIC CUNUNIC DYFL. Rv: Long cross, BYRHIMER MO PIN. S.6105. Excessively rare. Good VF $8750.00 An important and extremely rare early issue using the title Cununc, which is Viking for king.

Anglo Saxon Coins 690 - 899 AD

Kent, Egberht, 670: pale Thrymsa. ‘PADA’. Radiate bust r., ‘PADA’in runes before. Rv: Short cross floriate, part runic legend around. S.773. Extremely rare. VF+ $2250.00

Kent, Wihtred, 690-725: Sceatta. ‘Bx-B1’. Diademed bust r., annulet before. Rv: Bird on cross, annulets, anepigraphic legend. Cf. M.99. Very rare. EF $975.00 Unpublished transitional issue. Found Amney Crusis in Gloucestershire.

Kent, Wihtred, 690-725: Sceatta. ‘C’. Radiate bust r., ‘AEPA’ in runes before. Rv: Standard. BMC 2b. toned. EF $975.00 Ex JP Linzalone Collection, Stacks 1994, lot 2278. Wihtred defeated Oswine and became king of Kent ending the period of strife marked by the burning of Mul, prince of Wessex. Wihtred paid a massive wergeld for the murder. The brother of King Ine of Wessex married the daughter of Wihtred confirming an alliance. Kent and Wessex issued a joint law code. Wihtred was the grandfather of Egberht, king of Wessex and Bretwalda.

Kent, Wihtred, 690-725: Sceatta. C. 710. ‘Saroaldo’. Stylized radiate bust r. Rv: Saltire Standard, “SAROALDO” around. N.51. Very rare. Dark tone. aEF $975.00 Ex Stack collection, lot 188

Wessex, Aethelred I, 675-704. Sceatta. ‘E’. AETHI LRAED in two lines of runes. Rv: Linear porcupine design. BMC 105. Very rare. Toned. aEF $2250.00

This powerful Mercian king issued coinage in his royal name, as other Heptarchal kingshad done, such as Aldfrith of Northumbria.

East Anglia, Aelfwald, 713-749, Sceatta, c. 735. ‘Q’. Fantastic animal l., looking back, in pellet field. Rv: Bird l., cross, pellets. N.138. Very rare. aEF $1650.00

Kent, Aethelberht II, 725-762, with Beorhtweald, Archbishop of Canterbury, c. 730: Sceatta. ‘V’. She Wolf suckling twin boys. Rv: Bird in vines. S.815. Very rare. toned. Good VF $1650.00 This rare East Kent coinage is heavy with Church imagery. Ecgberht, Archbishop of York, issued coins at this time.

Kent, Aethelberht II, 725-762: Sceatta. ‘N’. Dragon l. looking back. Rv: Two figures stg. w. crosses. BMC 41b. Very rare. Good VF $675.00

Northumbria, Osberht, 849-867. AE Styca. York mint. Star, OSBURHT REX. Rv: Small cross, “ENVVLF”. S.869. Lovely patina. EF $750.00 Exceptionally nice coin of the last Northumbrian King, killed with his rival Aella at York, fighting the Danes.

Archbishops of York, Ecgberht, 732-766. Sceatta. York mint. Standing figure holding crozier and cross. Rv: Small cross, “EOTBERHTUS”. N.192. Very rare. aEF $2250.00 Ecgberht was a pupil and friend of Bede.

Mercia, Offa, 757-796. Penny. London mint, Light coinage. Bare headed armored bust r., “OFFA REX”. Rv: Floriate cross, “EALRED” in angles. Blunt 49. Very rare. Good VF $8750.00

Mercia, Offa, 757-796. Penny. London mint, Light coinage. Bare headed bust r., “OFFA REX”. Rv: Saltire cross, “ETHELVALD” in angles. N.310. Very rare. Good VF $8750.00

Mercia, Burgred. 852-874. Penny, Lunettes, ‘A’. Diademed bust r. Rv: “DIARWULF MONETA” in three lines, two lunettes. N.423. EF $1350.00

Wessex, Aelfred. 871-899. Penny, First coinage, 'D', 871-875. Canterbury mint. ‘Portrait. Diademed bust r. Rv: “HEREBALD MONETA” in three lines, crooked lines between. N.628. Slightly rough, good metal. Rare. Good VF $3750.00

Anglo Saxon Coins 899 - 1135AD

Wessex, Edward the Elder. 899-924. Penny, ‘Two Line’. Small cross. Rv: “FRITHEBRHT MO” in two lines. N.649, S.1087. aEF $1875.00 Bt Baldwins 1936

England, Eadred. 946-955. Penny, ‘Two Line’. Small cross. Rv: “AETHELMUND MO” in two lines. S.1113. Scarce. Minor flan wave. aEF $1750.00

England. Aethelred II, 978-1016. Penny, “First Hand”, Norwich mint., 978-985. Diademed bust r. Rv: Hand of God, alpha & omega flanking, “MANNIC MO NORDPIC”. S.1148. Extremely rare. Dark tone. aEF SOLD Alpha & omega transposed on this variety. Ex Duke of Argyll collection.

England. Aethelred II, 978-1016. Penny, “Crux”, Lympne mint., 991-997. Diademed bust l., with scepter. Rv: Small Cross, “CRUX” in angles, “LEOFRIC MO LIMNA”. S.1148. Extremely rare. EF $3750.00 Ex Norweb, 1208, Ex F. Elmore-Jones, 558

England. Harold I, 1035-40. Penny, “Fleur de Lis”, Lewes mint, 1038-40. Diademed bust l. w. scepter. Rv: Long Cross, fleur in angles, “WULFNOTH ON LIWS”. N.803. Very rare.Superb SOLD

England. Edward the Confessor, 1042-66. Penny, “Radiate”, Winchester mint, 1044-46. Radiate bust l. Rv: Small cross, “LADMAN ON PIN”. S.1173. EF $1350.00

England. William I, 1066-87. Penny, “Canopy”, Wallingford mint, 1070-72. Crowned bust facing under canopy. Rv: Quadrilateral fleur, “BRIHTMAER ON PAL”. S.1252. Rare. Minor adjustment marks. Nice example. Lovely tone. aEF $2750.00 Bought Seaby 1964 for 16 pounds, a considerable sum at the time

England. William II, 1087-1100. Penny, “Voided Cross”, Southwark mint, 1092-95. Crowned bust facing flanked by stars. Rv: Short cross over annulet cross, “WULFGAR ON SUTH”. S.1260. Very rare. Lovely example. Good VF $3750.00

England. Henry I, 1100-35. Penny. “Pax”. Hastings mint, c. 1103. Crowned facing bust with scepter. Rv: “PAX” in panel, annulets, “SPERLING ON HAST”. N.859. Very rare. Good VF $2950.00

England. Henry I, 1100-35. Penny. “Pellets in Quatrefoil”. Worcester mint, c. 1123. Crowned facing bust with scepter. Rv: Pellets in Quatrefoil, “API ON PIRECEST”. BMC 195. Nice portrait. Extremely rare. Good VF $1875.00

Arabic Coins

Umayyads, Abd al Malik, 685-702AD, Dinar, 83 AH (702 AD) During the years 696-699, Abd al-Malik implemented a profound currency reform. The new currency system was based on gold and silver. The word dinar derived from denarius, the name for all Roman coins, including the golden solidus. The dinar was lighter than the byzantine solidus (20 syrian-arabian carats as opposed to 24 Greek-Roman carats). But the number 20 was easier to use as it fit well into the metric system used in Arabia. There were no images on these coins, however, only epigrams. The golden dinar of Abd al-Malik became the model for all islamic coins for the coming seven hundred years.

Dirhem minted in Abarshahar in the year 92 (711 AD), Islamic Empire, Umayyad Dynasty Derived from the drachma of the Persian Sassanid Empire, the dirhem became the silver currency of the Arab coinage system. It was already introduced as a unit of account in 632, shortly after Muhammad's death. The first real silver dirhems were minted by the 5th Umayyad Caliph Abd al Malik. In his coinage reform (695/696) he insisted on the Islamic ban on depicting God and his creatures even on coins. This coin is one of the first to be minted after the reform. The obverse bears the inscription which recurs on all Islamic coins: "There is no God but Allah. He has no associate." Abd al Malik's dirhem spread throughout the whole Caliphate from Bactria to Spain and was produced in many mints. It underwent its greatest dissemination from 800 to 1012. The relationship of its value to the dinar (the Arab gold coin) is given as 10:1. For smaller payments the dirhem was cut up. The term dirhem lives on to this day in the Arab region in the currencies of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.