What is hacksilver?

Hacksilver is not actually silver, but rather pieces of chopped or hacked-up silver objects, often used by early cultures as a form of currency or as an early form of money. It was particularly popular among the Vikings and was used in trading and bartering for goods and services. Hacksilver could also be melted down and reshaped into various forms for different purposes. The term "hacksilver" comes from the Old Norse word "Hakka," meaning to chop or cut, and "silver," referring to the material itself. Today, hacksilver is sometimes used in jewelry-making and crafting as a way to give items an antique or rustic look.