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In the late Viking Age a common standard was adopted for a weighing system:

1 Mark = 8 aurar = 24 ortogar = 240 penningar

There is one other way of trading that we have not discussed and that is “credit”. I raise this point because the Vikings had a very clever way of recording the details of a credit arrangement which ties into the Runes notes.

Let us say Erik wants to buy a boat from Snorri to take his trade goods to the market down river. Both men know each other and are well known in town as honest traders. Reputation was very important to the Vikings. They agree a price of 1 Mark of silver (that is the weight of 240 penningar) and that the price must be paid when Erik returns from the market. To record the details of this deal Snorri picks up a stick of wood, shaves one side clean with his knife and scratches the agreement on the stick in runes. this is called a Tally Stick.

Each man agrees that the dre correct and because of the large sum of money witnesses may also be involved. The stick then is split with the knife, along it’s length and through the inscription. Snorri keeps one half and Erik takes the other and the boat to load it up.

On his return from the market, with pouches bulging with silver, Erik finds Snorri and pays him with 240 silver coins. Snorri gives Erik his piece of the stick and the deal is complete.

If however either man disputed the details of the deal the sticks could be brought together as proof. Because wood does not split cleanly the match cannot be forged. Any alterations to the inscription will only appear on one part of the stick so there is no possibility of cheating without being caught.

Neither man will even try to cheat because with a bad reputation they will not be able to trade again. Simple but very effective.