Viking Weighing Scales

Beginning around 1000 C.E., the Vikings began connecting with the Islamic World, which displayed a new idea to the Vikings: the exchange of coins (often silver) to support their economy (MacGregor). With these new coins suddenly controlling the economy, the Vikings needed something to measure the value of these coins. Instead of having specific coins, like in today’s economy, the Vikings were focused on how much the metal weighed to determine the value of the coins. The Vikings needed to create something to measure the weight of the coins, so their value could be determined for trade (Teaching History). This is where the first evidence of Viking weighing scales is found, around the time period of 1000-1200 C.E. These scales were very simple but are still recognizable to many in today’s society. Often, Viking scales could be broken down and taken on the go, which means that weighing scales could be used anywhere (MacGregor).

The way Viking scales worked is that the coins would be put on one side of the scale. Round, marked weights (shown in the pictures) would be placed on the other side of the scale. Traders would fill the scale with coins until the scale eventually balanced out, signaling that the needed value for the deal had been reached (Teaching History). These Viking weighing scales have been discovered around many old Viking territories, including recently (2013) in Norway (Bazilchuk). Having a scale could sometimes show that one was a proven merchant. As Bazilchuk says, “What good would a merchant be if he didn't have balance scales to weigh his goods?” Until specific coins were developed, having a scale was incredibly important for Viking merchants. By the late ninth century, Vikings finally began to create their own coins. However, scales were still popular, even after the Vikings had made their own coins. Many traders still relied on the weight of the silver to determine the value of a transaction, and this tradition and importance of scales lasted for many years (Teaching History).  

Sources: 

Bazilchuk, Nancy, et al. “Viking-Age Silver Button and Balance Scales Found.” ScienceNorway, 9 July 2013, https://partner.sciencenorway.no/archaeology-forskningno-norway/viking-age-silver-button-and-balance-scales-found/1388370. 

MacGregor, Neil. “A History of the Viking World – in 10 Extraordinary Objects.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 3 Mar. 2014, https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/mar/03/viking-world-british-museum-neil-macgregor-exhibition. 

“Teaching History with 100 Objects - Viking Scales and Weights.” The British Museum, http://www.teachinghistory100.org/objects/about_the_object/viking_scales_and_weights.