PIN

A decorative-headed pin (the shaft broken), probably of Roman date. The casting of the ornamental parts of the pin head, achieved in a two-piece mould, has emerged imperfectly and has not been tidied by the maker, as excess metal adheres and the 'seams' are visible and not tidied by filing. The shaft of the pin, which was curved, was oval in section at c2mmx2.5mm. Just below the head there is an expanded section 9mm long, which has a circumferent ridge at top and bottom, and a swollen rectangular central portion 3mmx4mm. Along the narrower sides of this the casting seams are visible. The narrower dimension is then waisted to 2mm, but the breadth at this point remains 4mm because of the residue of the casting seams. The head was flat beneath and domed above, but the domed area is misshapen from the casting, where excess metal has oozed from this part of the mould.