The term ‘sceat’ originates from Old English and means ‘treasure’ or ‘money’. Struck and used during the Anglo-Saxon period, these small silver coins often feature intricate patterns depicting animals, human figures, runes and symbols. By the ninth century, the use of sceats started to decline as other forms of currency, including the silver penny, gained popularity, and the penny eventually becoming the dominant coinage in medieval England. This particular  sceat was found in North Yorkshire, England.