NCL-935932: Lead token with cyrillic lettering.

Rights Holder: Museum of Antiquities of the University and Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne
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TOKEN

Unique ID: NCL-935932

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation

Sub-circular lead token, probably medieval. It has been mis-struck as the design is not central. It has writing on both sides which appears to be in the cyrillic alphabet which suggests it comes from around Russia. It is probably a trader's token and this would explain how it was found in England as Hartlepool was a trading port. The crossed keys design is used as the symbol of St. Peter, the gatekeeper of heaven for the Catholic faith. This could indicate that the company who made this token wanted to be associated with religion.

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Thickness: 2.57 mm
Weight: 9.4 g
Diameter: 24.2 mm

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 19th November 2006

Personal details

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Materials and construction

Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete

Jetton / token data

Denomination: Uncertain
Obverse description: There is writing around the outside and then in the centre 3 lines of writing. Above the 3 lines is a star with 6 points. Not all the writing around the outside is visible due to wear.
Obverse inscription: Outside- HMИ… ИГО…ОВИ… Three lines- 1st line- ЧЕРНЬШ 2nd line- РИЖСКШ 3rd line- СНћЬSAMЪ
Reverse description: There is writing around the edge but the design is not central so part of the writing is missing. The central picture is of crossed keys with 3 fleur-de-lis.
Reverse inscription: бОГЅ …ОН…

Spatial metadata

Region: North East (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Hartlepool (Unitary Authority)
District: Hartlepool (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Victoria (Unitary Authority Ward)

Spatial coordinates

4 Figure: NZ5032
Four figure Latitude: 54.68058417
Four figure longitude: -1.22604808
1:25K map: NZ5032
1:10K map: NZ53SW
Grid reference source: Centred on village (which isn't a parish)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Cultivated land

References cited

No references cited so far.

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1 comment

Paul Cannon wrote @ 21:09:23 on the 15th November 2012.
I believe that this is not a lead token but is a lead consignment seal for Riga balsam. The crossed keys and cross are part of the arms for the city of Riga [the capital city of present day Latvia] . The three line inscription in the centre matches precisely the Cyrillic characters on the illustrated seal by John Sullivan [see below]. He translates this as 'Black Riga Balsam'. Whilst Rigan flax seals are very common finds in Britain, he records only one known seal for Riga balsam. This was a 'medicinal' product but black balsam was also available as a very strong alcoholic drink. Its findspot on the north east coast comes as no surprise as it would likely be an eastern port through which the product to which it was attached was imported. The published example is dated 1893 but I cannot make out the date on this seal. See "Russian Cloth Seals in Britain: Trade, Textiles and Origins" by John Sullivan (2012) pp 49-50 and p63, figs 84a, b & c.

Audit data

Recording Institution: NCL
Created: 17 years ago
Updated: 13 years ago

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