Ca. 9th-12th Century AD
This silver ring is composed of a coiled body with an expanded and flattened central section. The bezel is decorated with a raised medial rib and punched zigzags above and below.
 
Silver rings have an array of functions in Viking society. They were a symbol of prestige and wealth, but many Old Norse texts also mention them in connection with the hack-silver economy. They also feature in temple hoards, suggesting religious significance. Given the ubiquity of silver jewellery in hoard contexts, they are even useful to comparatively date their gold counterparts. For a similar example, see: The British Museum, Museum Number: 1852,0329.242.
 
Provenance: From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
 
For additional information see: Hårdh, B. 1995. Silver in the Viking Age. A Regional Economic Study. Stockholm.