Kúgildi

Kúgildi, or kvígildi, is an old standard of value in bartering in Iceland. A kúgildi was equivalent to the value of one cow—the word literally translates to "cow value"[1]—which was equal to six woolly pregnant sheep. A kúgildi was also an appurtenance tenancy of leasehold land that each resident had to hand over to the next tenant who took over the property from them.[2]

Kúgildi have differed in value over time. Around 1200, a kúgildi was three hundredweights of cheese or butter. In the 13th century, a kúgildi was, for instance, estimated at one-hundred ells of wadmal, that is, a "big hundred", or 120.[3] In the 15th century, it was valued at 120 plump fish, that is, 40 at a weight of four marks and 80 at five marks.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Kúgildi". Old Icelandic Dictionary. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  2. ^ Júlíusson, Árni Daníel; Jónsson, Jónas (2013). Landbúnaðarsaga Íslands [Iceland's Agricultural History] (in Icelandic). Vol. 1. Skrudda.
  3. ^ "kúgildi". A Lexicon of Medieval Nordic Law. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  4. ^ Gunnarsdóttir, Sigríður. "Nunnuklaustrið að Reynistað" [The Convent in Reynistaður] (PDF). glaumbær.is (in Icelandic). p. 11. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
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