Tag: PAS

Making a Quick Buck – Coin Counterfeiting and Contemporary Copies in Britain

Posted on by adamrivett

What are Counterfeit and Contemporary Copy Coins?

Coin Copying first appears in Britain right alongside the introduction of coinage with the earliest examples of contemporary copies recorded on the PAS database dating back to the Iron Age (Search results from the database Page: 1 (finds.org.uk)). Counterfeit coins, both contemporary and not, are produced outside the legal sanctions of a state or official issuer. Contemporary copies are those that were made at the same time as, or shortly after, the official coins that they imitate. While contemporary copies are the most common type of counterfeit coins recorded on the database, we also record the occasional copy made more recently.

How were they made?

There were two main methods of producing fake coins; striking them from stolen or forged dies, or casting them in moulds. Coins copying those made from silver or gold needed the appearance of precious metals to be convincing so counterfeiters used special alloys or plated copper-alloy cores with thin layers of precious metals. The gold and silver necessary for the plating were sourced by clipping real coins (an offence in itself), melting down pieces of plate or melting other coins (Biebrach 2017).

Why did people counterfeit?

There are a few different reasons why coins where counterfeited in the past. Perhaps the most obvious motivation is to deliberately attempt to imitate officially issued currency and to deceive its recipient. Whether taking place is the past or more recently, this fraud sought to trick recipients for personal gain. There is considerable potential for profit when you can produce a convincing coin using a fraction of the precious metal than an official coin would contain. This fraudulent potential for profit still motivates more recent coin counterfeiting, from dodgy £1 coins to fake ancient coins produced with the intention of deceiving collectors, there’s still money to be made.

YORYM-F552A9 – A copper-alloy Roman barbarous radiate, contemporary copy of unclear 3rd century ruler, dating to the period c.AD 275-285 (Reece period 14).
YORYM-0BCC89 – A complete copper-alloy halfpenny trade token of Post-Medieval date, c.AD 1648 – 1673. The token was issued by William Dickeson in Bridlington Quay.

However, coins have not always been counterfeited for personal profit, with less ‘official’ coins being produced to support an economy in need of an additional supply of coins. The obvious example of this is the production of Barbarous radiates, imitations of 3rd century AD Roman radiates, which were produced and distributed in Britain in c.AD 275-285. These Barbarous radiates have been interpreted as possible token coinage, produced is less than official means to meet the shortfall of currency in circulation (Speed and Brown 2020). A similar phenomenon, albeit with token coinage which did not attempt to imitate official issues, took place in Britain around the turbulent period of the English Civil War, Commonwealth and royal restoration. Trade tokens were issued between AD 1648-1673 at a time when there was little low denomination coinage being officially issued. As a result traders and business proprietors began issuing tokens as an alternate coinage with equivalent denominations of a farthing, half penny or penny (YORYM-FF3D4E 2023).

When were these made?

PAS coin records containing the term ‘contemporary copy’.

Coin counterfeiting in Britain is not limited to any one specific period, a quick glance at the PAS database presents examples from the Iron Age to Modern period . The period with the greatest number of recorded contemporary copies is undoubtedly the Roman period. Thousands of examples have been recorded (Search results from the database Page: 1 (finds.org.uk)). The counterfeiting of coins continues to be an issue today with deceptive fakes of ancient coins making their way into the collectors market (Markowitz 2020). The counterfeiting of round £1 coins became such an issues that the Royal Mint introduced into circulation a new 12-sided £1 coin in 2017 with a number of features that make it much more difficult to counterfeit (The Royal Mint 2017).

Below is a small handful of less than official coins found in Yorkshire and recorded on the PAS database, along with explanations on why they aren’t quite right and what they can tell us about counterfeiting and economy.

YORYM-6C63E6 – Iron Age contemporary copy gold plated copper-alloy stater

YORYM-6C63E6 – A complete Iron Age contemporary copy gold plated copper-alloy stater of British uninscribed North Eastern (Corieltavi) South Ferriby type dating to the period 50 – 20 BC. ABC, p.92, no.1743.

The introduction of coinage to Britain during the Iron Age was soon followed by coin counterfeiting. This gold plated copy of a Corieltavi stater seems fairly typical of the roughly 250 contemporary copy Iron Age coins recorded on the PAS database. The most obvious indication that this is a copy is the copper-alloy core with a gold surface layer rather than being produced solely in gold. Sometimes, all that remains of these counterfeit staters is the copper-alloy core. Contemporary plated forgeries are known for most gold staters (de Jersey 1996, 13). Although, in some instances these copies appear to have been officially sanctioned due to the use of genuine dies. This raises some intriguing questions; where these plated copies officially issued or perhaps produced using stolen genuine dies?

Copies that have a precious metal surface layer over a base-metal core can be found throughout British numismatic history with more examples below.

YORYM-C5AB8A – Roman contemporary copy copper-alloy nummus

YORYM-C5AB8A – A copper-alloy contemporary copy Roman nummus of Constantius II (AD 323 – AD 361) dating to the period AD 355 – 361 (Reece Period 18). FEL TEMP REPARATIO reverse type depicting soldier spearing fallen horseman. Mint unclear.

There are a few different types of contemporary copy Roman coins typically found in Roman Britain. The first are plated copies, with the most common examples being silver plated denarii of the 1st to 3rd centuries AD. Much like the earlier copies of Iron Age gold staters, the big giveaway for these is the copper-alloy core. The next type copy 1st to 3rd centuries AD copper-alloy coins such as sestertii, dupondii and asses. These coins are typically smaller, lighter and sometimes appear to have been cast with ridges running around the edges of the coin where the two moulds met. Sometimes these copies also feature crude portraits, inscriptions and designs. The third type are the previously mentioned Barbarous radiates, which are very common in the UK. These are also often identified by their smaller size, lighter weight and occasional evidence of casting. Most, however, are identified by their poor execution with shoddy portraits, basic designs and blundered inscriptions (Contemporary copies of Roman coins (finds.org.uk)).

The last type, that of the coin in focus, are imitations of 4th Century copper-alloy nummi. These share a lot in common with the previous Barbarous radiates, they are very common, can be identified by their crude style and their reduced size and weight. Reverses of the periods AD 330-341 and AD 353-361 are the most frequently copied with this example featuring the common FEL TEMP REPARATIO reverse type depicting soldier spearing fallen horseman. Contemporary copies make up c.64% of the total number of ‘fallen horseman’ type coins on the PAS database. These coins were probably issued in great numbers because of a dearth of official small change being insufficient to satisfy demand. Once again we see contemporary coinage being produced not by unscrupulous folk trying to get rich but by a local community attempting to support an economic system to meet their daily needs (Speed and Moorhead 2020, Moorhead 2013,183).

YORYM-AC4DBB – Medieval contemporary copy gold plated copper-alloy noble

YORYM-AC4DBB – A gold plated contemporary copy medieval noble of Henry V (AD 1413-1422) dating to the period c. AD 1413-1422. Standard type ‘A’ with King standing in ship, crowned and wearing armour, holding sword in right hand and shield in left. Imitating North vol 2, p.69, nos.1369-1375.

While coin counterfeiting continued into the early medieval period, our next example dates to the medieval period. This coin, much like the Iron Age stater contains a copper-alloy core plated with gold. Oddy et al (2012) found that cotemporary copies of medieval gold coins that appear plated were all plated using fire gilding. This method involves rubbing a mixture of gold and mercury into a base metal core and heating it. The mercury would evaporate and the gold was bonded to the surface. These gilded blanks could then be struck between forged dies. There is also no shortage of clipped coin dating to the medieval period recorded on the PAS database, perhaps indicating where counterfeiters were getting their precious metals. A gold noble would have rarely been found in the hands of anyone who wasn’t economically wealthy. The choice to copy a large denomination gold coin suggests that this counterfeiting was taking place to not help an economy but to deceive for profit.

YORYM-69ADD0 – Post Medieval silver coin clipping fragments

YORYM-69ADD0 – Treasure Case 2023 T651
Four silver coin clipping fragments from uncertain denominations of uncertain rulers, post-medieval in date, c. AD 1500-1700.

This isn’t an example of a counterfeit coin but instead the indication that counterfeiting is taking place. This collection of clippings have been removed from the edges of coins. This was a standard abuse and currency crime throughout the medieval to early modern period, despite stringent legislation and extreme punishment, often execution, for those found guilty. Typically, clippings would then be melted down and used to make counterfeit coins.

There was a particular outbreak of clipping at the time of the English Civil War in the AD 1640s, when many aspects of life broke down and perpetrators believed, probably with some justification, that they ran less risk of being caught and punished. It is certainly the case that clipped coins from this period survive in large numbers and that there are several known hoards of clippings of precisely the sort of material possibly found in this group. Clipping hoards from other periods are hardly known at all. (PAS records DENO-060EAA and GLO-0794E0).

This hoard is potentially a clipper’s hoard, possibly intended to be melted down to make or plate forgeries, although this cannot be stated with full certainty.

Closing Thoughts

Hopefully this has demonstrated the deep roots that coin counterfeiting has within Britain and provided a very brief introduction to contemporary copies along with the role they had within their respective economies. Counterfeiting coins was, and continues to be, a crime and the punishments given to those caught forging stands as testament to how serious the crime was taken in the past (Biebrach 2017; Kleineke 2016, 213-226). With such severe punishment its easy to forget that not all contemporary copies were produced for personal gain but instead, counterfeiting has, in times of economic need and societal upheaval, been conducted by communities to assist the function of their monetary system. This also provides an opportunity to think about why people counterfeited beyond personal profit or to meet the shortfall of official currency. Has counterfeiting ever been an act of defiance, a method of artificially influencing an economy or used to undermine the authority of a ruler and the acceptability of the money they issued? Regardless, contemporary copy coins offer one more insight into history and allow us to engage with our occasionally criminal past.

References and Further Reading

Biebrach, R., 2017. Amgueddfa Cymru – Counterfeit Coins. Available at: https://museum.wales/articles/1722/Counterfeit-Coins/ (accessed 20/03/2024).

de Jersey, P., 1996. Celtic Coinage in Britain. Riseborough: Shire Archaeology.

Kleineke, H., 2016. The prosecution of counterfeiting in Lancastrian England. In M. Allen & M. Davies (Eds.), Medieval Merchants and Money: Essays in Honour of James L. Bolton. London: University of London Press. Pp. 213–226.

Markowitz, M., 2020. CoinWeek Ancient Coin Series: Modern Fakes of Ancient Coins. Available at: https://coinweek.com/coinweek-ancient-coin-series-modern-fakes-ancient-coins/ (accessed 20/03/2024).

Moorhead, S., 2013. A History of Roman Coinage in Britain. Witham: Greenlight Publishing.

Oddy, W . A, Archibald, M.M., Cowell, M.R., and Meeks, N.D., 2012. Forgeries of Medieval English Gold Coins: Techniques of Production. London: Royal Numismatic Society.

Speed, L. and Brown, A., 2020. Coin Relief 21 – Barbarous radiates. Available at: https://finds.org.uk/counties/blog/coin-relief-issue-nineteen/ (accessed 20/03/2024).

Speed, L. and Moorhead, S., 2020. Coin Relief 32 – “Fallen Horsemen” coins. Available at: https://finds.org.uk/counties/blog/coin-relief-issue-thirty/ (accessed 20/03/2024).

The Royal Mint. 2017. Counterfeit £1 Coin. Available at https://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/counterfeit-one-pound-coins (accessed 20/03/2024).

In situ archaeology: why it’s important and what we can do about it.

Posted on by Rebecca Griffiths

In archaeology, provenance and context are key to understanding an object or site. This is why we at PAS require a minimum 8-figure national grid reference for the finds we record. Most objects recovered by metal detector users are found in the topsoil, already removed from their context by agricultural practices. Occasionally though, finds from below the ploughzone or from land which has not been subjected to such activity are discovered. In these instances, the finds are ‘in situ’. That is, they likely remain exactly where they were originally placed in the ground.

In situ finds are incredibly interesting as they hold the potential to tell us more about where, when, how and why they were buried. It is much better for both the archaeology and the people involved if an excavation can be planned for in situ finds. This will ensure important evidence is retained.

The following are case studies which show the potential information which can be achieved through careful excavation of in situ archaeology.

THE BITTERLEY HOARD

This hoard of 138 civil war period coins in a ceramic vessel was found in February 2011. The finder left the hoard in situ and reported it to Shropshire FLO, Peter Reavill who arranged for the hoard to be excavated.

The excavation determined that no other buried archaeology was present surrounding the hoard, so it was lifted in a single block. Through careful investigation, the hoard was removed safely, packed securely and taken to London where staff at the Conservation and Research Department of the British Museum could work on it.

The hoard was slowly excavated from its clay block and over time the container and the coins within were revealed.

The excavation showed that there was no difference between the layers and that they had been thoroughly mixed before deposition. What was interesting was that it seems as if the coins were placed in the vessel in small stacks or columns and several groups of coins were removed in this way.

A relatively unique find within the hoard was that the vessel was lined with the well-preserved remains of a fine leather purse. The leather is very fragile and the impressions of the coins could be clearly seen preserved within it. Its survival is rare as leather and other organic material seldom survive in the soil.

If the finder had dug the hoard and emptied the contents of the vessel then the organisation of the coins could not be understood and it is likely that the organic material would have been severally damaged or lost as it is so fragile.

PAS record for the Bitterley Hoard

THE ROSSETT INGOT

The Rossett Roman lead ingot was found in early September 2019. The finder reported it to Wales FLO, Susie White. Susie and a colleague from Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust attended the site and surveyed the findspot. They determined that no further archaeological remains were present in the vicinity of the findspot so the ingot was removed. While the ingot itself was incredibly interesting, it is the research project it spawned which shows the potential for what provenance and context can tell us.

To better understand the ingot, how and why it had come to be in the ground at Rossett, a partnership project between the University of Chester and Wrexham Museum was created. Through carefully planned field walking, geophysical survey and excavation, a corridor villa, the first of its kind for North East Wales was identified.

PAS record for the Rossett Ingot

THE BEDALE HOARD

In May 2012 the Bedale Hoard was discovered by two metal detectorists. They had removed several objects from the ground before realising the scale of their find. At that point, they stopped, covered the hole and contacted me in York.

I visited the site with my colleague from the Yorkshire Museum and we could tell instantly from the finds already recovered that something amazing had been found. Our subsequent, small-scale excavation uncovered a hoard of forty-eight silver and gold items dating from the late 9th to early 10th centuries AD. It included necklaces, arm-bands, a sword pommel, hacksilver and silver ingots.

Thanks to the finder leaving much of the hoard in situ we were able to gain valuable contextual evidence relating to its deposition. The hoard was deposited in a clear order. Firstly, the ingots went in. They were packed in a neat 20cm square area suggesting the presence of a box-like container. The jewellery was then placed on top of the ingots and finally the sword was laid across the top.

Other than the way in which the ingot were deposited there was no sign of a container of any kind but we took samples of the soil directly beneath the ingots in case traces of a leather or cloth bag or even a decayed wooden container survived. Unfortunately, test carried out by the British Museum on these samples were inconclusive. The lack of any other features discovered by the excavation suggested that the hoard had been buried in open ground, like most hoards, rather than on a settlement.

The order in which these objects were found demonstrates that they were carefully and purposefully placed in the ground. A large stone found directly above the hoard also suggests that was intended to be retrieved with the stone acting as a marker.

PAS record for the Bedale Hoard

EMERGENCY EXCAVATION PROTOCOL

None of these excavations happened quickly. They all required planning, preparation and funding. Excavation by professional field archaeologists should be the aim for in situ finds whenever possible, and this might not happen immediately. In some cases, leaving an object in the ground may even be the best course of action to preserve the information it holds.

In North & East Yorkshire we have an Emergency Excavation Protocol, devised by the PAS in conjunction with local Historic Environment Record Offices, to encourage best practice and manage expectations when dealing with in situ finds. You can read the protocol through the link below.

Through working together, we can ensure that archaeological discoveries made during metal detecting fulfil their potential to vastly improve our understanding of our past.

CLICK HERE FOR THE NORTH & EAST YORKSHIRE EMERGENCY EXCAVATION PROTOCOL

SWYOR’s Christmas selection box of 2023’s star finds

Posted on by Amy Downes

On the winter solstice, as the year draws to an end, it seems like a good time to look back at some of the most interesting finds recorded by the South and West Yorkshire office this year.

The 151 finders who recorded in South and West Yorkshire this year added an amazing 3652 objects to the PAS database, in 2792 records, putting SWYOR 5th in the recording league table for another year running!

The contribution of metal detected finds to archaeology and museums cannot be understated. By working together to record your finds, extremely important objects and information have been preserved, and they have contributed to ground-breaking research and to widening our understanding of past communities. Many of the finds below are in the process of being donated to or acquired by local museums.

Though this blog focusses on some of the rare, unusual and special finds, it is important to remember how important it is to keep recording the boring and common finds too. Buckles, coins and shot may not be glamorous, but they are vital to identify areas of past activity, and to give a meaningful background against which the showier objects can be interpreted. Every find that is older than AD 1540 is important to record, and many younger items too.

There are clearly far too many objects to be able to mention all the special finds, so here is just a brief selection of our favourites, in no particular order. Apologies for not naming the individual finders – I haven’t had time to contact you all to ask your permission.

SWYOR-8F3FA8

There are only a few examples of decorated spearheads on the PAS database, so it was a treat to record this example, dating from the Taunton phase, 1500 BC to 1150 BC. 

The object was originally thought to be a rapier tip. It can be difficult to distinguish spearheads from daggers, especially when the object is incomplete. A rapier is a development of a dagger. However, the thick mid rib perhaps makes it more likely that this fragment is from a spearhead.

SWYOR-F12809

We record a lot of coins on PAS – there are over 92,000 Medieval coins on the PAS database alone. It’s important work because if they are all recorded, we can then use them for statistical analysis. While lots are common types, we sometimes get to record scarcer varieties too. This Irish threepence of Edward VI in the name of Henry VIII turned out to be one of only 5 examples on the PAS database.

SWYOR-F9AE04

This is a lion bow brooch of Roman date, about AD 25 – 60, though the lion on the bow is not immediately recognisable being “reduced to what could be described as a bow tie” as Mackreth puts it! This example is special because it is one of the most Northerly lion bow brooches recorded.

SWYOR-7AD3FF

Other objects are important by their regionality. This is a Thomas Class A strap end dating from AD 750 – 950. A nice example, but not that uncommon. However, the specific design is a Type 1avii (don’t you just love a good classification!), which is a type with a specifically Yorkshire distribution. Perhaps they were made locally.

SWYOR-3E8C66

Does this find make your mouth water?! The modelling on this Roman knife handle is incredibly realistic because it would have been moulded from a real asparagus spear, making each knife unique. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first example of an asparagus shaped knife found in Britain, though there are 16 recorded from mainland Europe. The skill of the metal working would have made this a high status object.

SWYOR-861B2E

Another Roman object hinting at an elite lifestyle is this tiny vessel in the shape of a bird (sadly missing its head). The small size of the container suggests it held a luxury item only needed in small amounts such as a cosmetic or perfume. It could be an urguentarium or part of a cosmetic set, perhaps designed to be worn suspended from the loop as a pendant in a similar way to cosmetic pestles and mortars. We have not yet found a parallel.

SWYOR-2282C6

This boss is probably from an “octopus” type shield mount dating from AD 1100 – 1250. It is thanks to Rob Webley’s research that these finds can be recognised even when they are incomplete. He has found an association between finds of this type and high status sites, particularly castles.

SWYOR-3D2A71

Beaded torcs are uncommon finds and this is a large piece of one. It dates from the late Iron Age to early Roman period, about 100 BC – AD 200. Some were made with separate beads threaded onto a rod, and others were cast in a few large pieces, like this one.

SWYOR-C8DC45

At first glance, this is just another long cross coin, but closer examination revealed it was from the mint at Berwick. All coins from the Berwick mint are scarce, but this round halfpenny of Edward III, Class 8b, is particularly so, with just 11 recorded on the PAS database.

SWYOR-37E516

Other finds are a challenge to identify fully because they have travelled a long way. This was clearly a stirrup strap mount of Williams Class B, but it was harder to find parallels. We think it is a continental type, with the closest parallels from Sweden and Denmark, but so far, it is the only example of this design.

SWYOR-4898A8

Finds younger than AD 1700 are not usually recorded, because we have to prioritise older finds, but we do make exceptions for especially interesting items, or objects that carry a name and will aid historical research. This object is both. It is an early 20th century token for the John Roberts Billiard Rooms in Leeds. It made a nice change to be able to find photos of the building where this token was issued, and references to the business in documentary sources.

SWYOR-F89F86

To finish, we have a coin with a Christmassy connection. This coin of Licinius I (AD 308 – 324) is only the 2nd example of this specific type, which was minted in London. The only other one known is in the British Museum, and was struck from the same dies as this one. The reverse depicts Sol, the sun god, holding a globe. The legend reads SOLI INVICTO COMITI which means ‘to the invincible Sun, companion of the emperor’, suggesting that Licinius was as important on earth as the sun was in the sky. Some scholars suggest that a festival celebrating Sol was held on or around the 25th December, making this a very apt find for this Christmas season!

Thank you to all the finders for their continued support and engagement with the Portable Antiquities Scheme throughout 2023.

David Brear of the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society has written an article about a selection of PAS finds from Yorkshire which he has kindly allowed us to share. See the PDF below.

Recent_Portable_Antiquities_finds_from_YDownload

Detecting Yorkshire’s Past – PAS Display at the Yorkshire Museum

Posted on by adamrivett

Over the winter period, a collection of artefacts found by members of the York and District Metal Detecting Club were displayed in the Yorkshire Museum Foyer case. This was a great opportunity to get some really amazing finds on display as well as telling some excellent stories from the people who found them. It was really great to share all this with the public and tangibly display how metal detectorists help expand our understanding of the past and why metal detecting continues to be such a popular pastime. The mini exhibit will remain on display until February 2024 and can be viewed for free in the Museum foyer.

The finds displayed were a really broad selection; from the exquisite and rare to the typical and commonplace. Generally when metal detected finds are displayed in museums there is always a large focus on treasure. Therefore, we made the decision to focus on non-treasure finds for this display. That being said, we still had some brilliant objects on display. One of the highlights was the Roman Patera which we were really excited to display to the public. It’s a remarkable finds with such an interesting story. We were also pleased to include some fascinating examples of common metal detected finds. These include the spindle whorl and Iron Age toggle. Although these might not be particularly rare in Yorkshire, it was nice to shine a spotlight on finds which we always enjoy recording but don’t often get much attention from Museums.

Below are a few words provided by the finders, covering why the enjoy detecting so much and why the finds they displayed were so special to them.

Mark Didlick

YORYM-76CAE2 – Iron Age to Roman Mount, c. 100 BC – AD 300
YORYM-8CA8D4 – Post-Medieval Contemporary Counterfeit Half-crown of William III, c. AD 1696-1699
YORYM-D70AE0 – Medieval to Post-Medieval Spindle Whorl, c. AD 1200 – 1800
YORYM-2FD976 – Roman Colchester-derivative Brooch, c. AD 43 – 120
YORYM-1AFB8C – Roman Dragonesque Brooch, c. 75 – 175

“The bovine mount (YORYM-76CAE2) is one of my favourite finds from this year. The excitement from unearthing items like this is mind blowing! And being the first person to see it in over 2000 years is where I get my buzz from and what keeps me detecting in all weathers. You just never know what the next signal is going to reveal.

I find lots of spindle wholes but this one (YORYM-D70AE0) is in great condition and has lovely decoration; it’s my best so far. My first complete roman brooch (YORYM-2FD976) and slightly damaged dragonesque brooch (YORYM-1AFB8C) take pride in my display at home. I really enjoy finding personal items like these.”

Shaughn Tyreman

YORYM-20B68C – Roman Enamelled Vessel, c. AD 43 – 150

“It was Wednesday the 25th of May and the day before my birthday. We were on a stubble field next to one we’d been on before several months earlier where some interesting finds had been made. I started searching across the line of the plough and across the width of the field and settled down to finding buttons, shotties and various pieces of Georgian and Victorian worn coppers and furniture mounts.

I had noticed a slight bump in the field and headed toward it where I spotted some Roman Grayware pot shards. A friend of mine, Keith, came across for a chat and I mentioned these to him and said I was going to grid search the area in the hope of some Roman coinage being in the vicinity he also stopped around and it wasn’t long before he was back to show me a nice if incomplete Roman brooch.

After about half an hour I found the largest piece, I guessed it to be Roman and hoped there may be more so I slowly searched up and down the plough line. Through this I recovered several other pieces of the same vessel including the handle and base of the bowl. With some help I excavated a hole and found the handle and base of the bowl at a real good depth. We could see the handle was engraved and enamelled with the inscription ‘VTERE FELIX’, which was later translated from Latin to ‘use in happiness’. I was over the moon. I subsequently discovered that it was a Roman Patera which was the Roman soldier’s equivalent of our modern day mess tin.

I took the Patera to the Club meeting a couple of days later to show the FLO. She was equally enthusiastic about it and said ” This is Find of the Year material!” She was indeed correct, I am lucky to have been given the chance to find such a unique item. It has certainly been my best find in around 33 years of detecting and it is nice to know it has been recorded for posterity and my own name has been added to this artefact’s fascinating history.”

Peter Smith

YORYM-59945E – Neolithic to Bronze Age Leaf Arrowhead, c. 4000 – 1600 BC
YORYM-7C7AE6 – Iron Age to Roman Toggle, c. 100 BC – AD 100
YORYM-6EB956 – Roman Figurine, c. AD 43 – 250
YORYM-285423 – Early Medieval Openwork Disc Brooch, c. AD 500 – 600

“I’m often asked why I go metal detecting. The reasons include; Fresh air and exercise, The excitement of the chase, finding something no one has touched for hundreds of years, interest in history, good for the soul and mental health. Why wouldn’t you?

When I initially dug up the Early Medieval disc brooch covered in dirt, I was convinced it was a piece of rubbish from a tractor or similar. My policy is to take home everything I find and check it before throwing away. It was only when I ran it under the tap that I noticed the cut outs and then realised what I found! I still shiver when I realise how easily I could have thrown it away.”

Mark Lambert

YORYM-30130C – Iron Age to Roman Fob Dangler, c. 50 BC – AD 100
YORYM-B8ADE4 – Bronze Age Flanged Axehead, c. 1600 – 1400 BC
YORYM-D1E158 – Early Medieval Glass Bead, c. AD 450 – 650

“I’ve had an interest in history from a young age and was bought my first metal detector by my parents when I was around 10 years old. For me, spending time outdoors in the countryside, metal detecting with friends or part of a club is a welcome antidote to the day job, as is the anticipation of finding something old and interesting. There’s also a chance you might find something really significant and valuable, but that’s not what motivates most people who go metal detecting, and the chances of getting rich are pretty slim!

The glass bead has been dated to the Early Medieval period. It was found on a site in East Yorkshire where Saxon coins and other artefacts have been found and I spotted it just lying on the surface. This would probably have been part of a necklace, strung with other beads and possibly a gold cross or pendant but sadly the rest is still missing!

Finding the Bronze Age axehead was a complete surprise. They are not common finds in Yorkshire, and it caused quite a lot of excitement on an otherwise quiet day. Bronze Age axe heads are often found in hoards, and in ancient times were probably melted down and recycled to make other objects. As a single find this one was probably lost by its original owner around 3,500 years ago. It’s survived surprisingly well in the ground and is still quite sharp!

The Romano-British fob was found on a site near York and is one of the first items I recorded with the PAS. It has a ‘triskele’ design which echoes Celtic motifs and is still one of my favourite finds.”

Fiendish Finds: Unidentified Objects on the PAS database

Posted on by adamrivett

You may have noticed that, despite best efforts, some finds are recorded onto the PAS database as unidentified objects. In many such cases, finds are recorded as unidentified after they’ve been looked at by a range of PAS find specialists. Therefore, several of the finds recorded by the North and East Yorkshire team as unidentified will be highlighted in the hopes that you might be able to help. Please send your thoughts to adam.rivett@ymt.org.uk or comment below.

This hooked copper-alloy object is an odd one which possibly dates to the post-medieval period. With no parallels for this object being found at time of recording, the form and patina were the basis for this suggested age.

See more at: 
Record ID: YORYM-A054E3 – POST MEDIEVAL unidentified object (finds.org.uk)

This copper-alloy unidentified object is recorded as a possible Early-Medieval buckle. As it is of uncertain completeness and encrusted with iron corrosion, it’s been difficult to say much with confidence.

See more at:

Record ID: YORYM-0EAA1E – UNKNOWN unidentified object (finds.org.uk)

The copper-alloy object is cylindrical with a hollow interior. There are no screw threads within the interior of the object. The age and purpose of the object is currently very much a mystery.

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Record ID: YORYM-D30D11 – UNKNOWN unidentified object (finds.org.uk)

This incomplete domed copper-alloy object features a central rounded boss, incomplete irregularly shaped tabs and a large shank on its reverse. However, due to a lack of contextual evidence, diagnostic features or any convincing parallels on the database it is not possible to date or identify this object.

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Record ID: YORYM-0FBF19 – UNKNOWN unidentified object (finds.org.uk)

This unidentified object of Roman date is in the form of a solid forward-facing human bust set on a hollow sub-rectangular socket with two broken lugs on the reverse. It has features in common with a range of other Roman objects though none which qualify as a convincing parallel.

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Record ID: YORYM-10DFCB – ROMAN unidentified object (finds.org.uk)

This incomplete unidentified object appears to be modern. The object is composed of twisted copper-alloy with what appears to be two wires running through the middle. There are also two flat sections of copper alloy: in the middle and at one end, through which the two small wires project.

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Record ID: YORYM-00ED94 – MODERN unidentified object (finds.org.uk)

This unidentified object is conical in shape with a rope-like stacked texture to the exterior surface. The bottom is flat and there is no evidence of any kind of fitting, opening, or loop though a break is present to the apex. It appears to be hollow. 

See more: Record ID: YORYM-B93BA5 – POST MEDIEVAL unidentified object (finds.org.uk)

Star Finds of 2023 so far…

Posted on by Rebecca Griffiths

We are so lucky to get to see a wide variety of amazing objects in our work. The following are just a few of our favourites from the past six months.

A beautiful copper alloy hanging bowl with three zoomorphic escutcheons featuring intricate curvilinear decoration

This beautiful object is an Anglo-Saxon hanging bowl. It retains all three of its decorative escutcheons which are in the form of stylised animals, possibly serpentine or Aves (bird). Their central plates have stunning curvilinear designs. A basal disc, now separated from the bowl, remains and also displays intricate curvilinear decoration. A particularly interesting feature of this bowl is an apparent repair to the base in the form of reinforced sheet metal.

Hanging-bowls are specialised luxury vessels with origins in the Roman period and continued to be made and used in the Early-Medieval period only in Britain and later in Ireland. While their precise purpose is uncertain, they were highly valued objects in the Anglo-Saxon cultures of eastern Britain and were typically included in furnished burials, contexts that date them to the mid sixth to late seventh century.

View the full record here: YORYM-59523A
A lovely copper alloy brooch with prominent curved profile, a red enamel ring at the apex, and red enamel cells along the bow

This Roman brooch is a headstud type which is one of the most common, best-known and longest-lived brooch types from Roman Britain. They are characterised by their solid, arched bow with a decorative knop at its apex, also known as a stud, from which it gets its name. These brooches were often highly decorative with brightly coloured enamel set within geometric designs.

The headstud brooch was a native British type and is most frequently found in the north of England. Excavations at Castleford revealed a major Roman metalworking industry that produced high-status enamelled flasks and spoons, and the discovery of unfinished headstud brooches suggests that these brooches were also made there.

View the full record here: YORYM-B53D04
A copper alloy swivelling tumbrel with cross hatched decoration and acorn knoped terminal

This is a medieval tumbrel, or trebuchet-type coin balance, which dates to the 13th to 14th century. Tumbrels were used to check the weights of coins. It is generally assumed that the vertical element of tumbrels was fixed to a table, bench or stuck into the ground but it is also probable that some examples were designed to rest on a table, counter or to be handheld.

Dating evidence for tumbrels comes from excavated evidence, with most found in 13th  century contexts, with some going into the 14th century. Complete examples have been found to balance weights of about 12 grains (0.78 g) to 22.2 grains (1.4 g), which is comparable to the weights of silver pennies issued between AD 1279 and AD 1526.

View the full record here: YORYM-6B234D
A large copper alloy cross with lozenge terminals and projecting fleur de lis decoration

This processional cross cross is made from copper alloy. There is writing on each arm, and in the centre of the cross are the letters ‘IHS’. These are Greek – ΙΗΣ – which are the first letters of the name ‘Jesus’. There is a small symbol on each arm. However, these are difficult to identify at present. We would expect these symbols to be the names of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These are the people who wrote books in the Bible. Most crosses have these symbols, but this one does not match other crosses. The base of this cross is engraved with three symbols forming ‘maker’s marks’ which show who made the cross. The meaning of these particular symbols has been lost.

Processional crosses were common in England in the 15th century. They fell out of use with the Dissolution of the Monasteries, when many church objects were destroyed. This processional cross was made AD 1450-1530. It was later hidden in the ground, possibly to protect it.

The cross was found during landscaping work and the team instantly knew it was a special find. Intern, Eve, was particularly fascinated by the object and, after some in-depth research, developed a display in the Yorkshire Museum to share this wonderful object with the public and highlight the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

View the full record here: YORYM-F1C16C
A stunning openwork brooch in the form of a double headed dragon with blue enamelled eyes and nostrils

This Roman brooch is known as a Dragonesque type. They are very distinctive, S-shaped and with the pin looped around one terminal and secured against the other (so with no catchplate). The way of fastening the pin is not like any plate or bow brooch. These come in a variety of styles, commonly including brightly coloured enamel and curvilinear motifs. This example is openwork with coiled motifs and enamelled eyes.

Dragonesque brooches have a distinctly Northern distribution suggesting they may have developed in Yorkshire.

View the full record here: YORYM-655995
A lead alloy pilgrim badge featuring a depiction of St Eloi

This lead-alloy medieval pilgrim badge depicts St Eloi on the left, hammering on an anvil. On the right are a horse and a pilgrim giving St Eloi a trindle (a coiled candle). An inscription which appears to read ‘ELIGIUS’ is present above the image.

Saint Eloi, or Eligius, was a French saint who became Bishop of Noyon and Tournai and converted many people to Christianity. He was also a highly skilled farrier who was believed to be able to remove a horse’s leg, shoe it, and put it back on. Medieval people were sometimes ‘measured for a candle’, which meant that a piece of string that was as long as they were tall was turned into a trindle and offered to a saint in return for a favour. Evidence suggests candles were on sale at St Eloi’s shrine in Noyon and that the candle sellers were also selling pilgrim badges (which may explain why the badges are often so crude in design).

View the full record here: YORYM-6BC577

Find Types in Focus: Zoomorphic Buckles

Posted on by adamrivett

Zoomorphism and British Artefacts

The term zoomorphic is used to describe something which has or represents animal forms or gods of animal form. Throughout the past, craftspeople have often incorporated animal designs into the objects they were producing. A cursory search of the Portable Antiquities Scheme database for objects described as zoomorphic will present you with a huge range of artefact types and periods where zoomorphic designs have been implemented.

Number of PAS entries which have been recorded with the word ‘zoomorphic’ in their description

The earliest objects recorded on the PAS database with zoomorphic styles date from the late Iron Age to early Roman period with many of these given dates of around c. 50 BC to AD 100. 116 entries on the database described as zoomorphic have been determined to be broadly of Iron Age date. Although artefacts with zoomorphic forms or decoration appear to become more frequent during the late Iron Age, it in no way reflects the height of popularity for this style. It is in the Roman period that we begin to see far more zoomorphic objects appearing. The most common Roman zoomorphic objects are brooches, buckles, mounts and figurines. Over 1,800 Roman objects are described as having zoomorphic form or decoration on the database.

The period with the most entries described as zoomorphic is the Early Medieval period.  With over 4,400 objects described as zoomorphic we see a huge amount of artefacts with animals incorporated into their design. Strap ends, stirrups, brooches, buckles, mounts and more feature zoomorphic forms or decoration in this period. The appearance of zoomorphism in objects recorded on the database declines slightly in the Medieval period, with a still rather substantial 2,500 objects. Object types such as buckles, vessels, strap fittings and mounts from the Medieval period have been described as featuring zoomorphic form or decorative styles. The use of zoomorphism within object form and decoration further declines through the Post Medieval period, with only 720 entries on the database described as zoomorphic. Strap fittings, knives, mounts, vessels and buckles are the most common artefact types from this period which have been described as zoomorphic on the database.

Unsurprisingly, the extent of zoomorphic objects recorded on the database likely extends beyond those which have been explicitly described as such. Many objects which have clearly identifiable animal designs or forms are commonly described as featuring a specific animal or using a broad term such as quadruped or beast. However, looking at objects which have plainly been described as zoomorphic we begin to see certain artefact types which have consistently featured representations of animals through form or decoration throughout history. One of these object types is buckles which, from the Roman period up to the Post Medieval, have often included animal representations.

Zoomorphic Buckles by Period

Roman Zoomorphic Buckles

The earliest zoomorphic buckles recorded on the database have been dated to the Roman period. Of the 829 Roman buckles recorded on the PAS database, 288 are described as zoomorphic making late Roman buckles with zoomorphic decoration the largest group of Roman buckles on the database. From c. 300 AD onwards, buckled belts become really popular in the Roman world, and most of the Roman buckles on the PAS database are dated to the 4th century. As with the earlier Roman armour buckles, the late zoomorphic buckles often have a separate bar on which the plate, frame and pin all hinge. This leads to a distinctive shape with hinge loops instead of a bar on the frame. As with the earlier cast belt buckles, many examples also have curled-in ends to the frame. Some also have ornate pins with side projections which fill the space within the frame (Flynn 2016).

The classic and still incredibly useful text defining these buckles is Hawkes and Dunning 1961. This text along with their classification and vocabulary is still used by PAS staff with many Roman zoomorphic buckles on the database recorded with their Hawkes and Dunning classification. Hawkes and Dunning divided the buckles into four types, each with sub-types. The animals are often known as ‘dolphins’, but they have upturned noses and upright crests, so have sometimes also been identified as boars. Alternative or additional animals can include horses, birds and fish or even humans. Below are a few examples of Types I, II and III from the PAS database. Type IV buckles have been found in Roman burial contexts in England but none have been recorded by the PAS.

Type IA and IB

Type IA style buckles – Examples include LIN-065D25 (Pictured), GLO-261AA4, SUR-081230 and WILT-741DAF
Type IB style buckles – Examples include HAMP-8C3C28, WILT-7BCEA0, LIN-6530CC and SOM-E6C541 (Pictured).

Type IIA, IIB and IIC

Type IIA style buckles – Examples include WAW-99C7AB (Pictured), BERK-C9AC82, GLO-871BC8 and NLM-83A7B1.
Type IIB style buckles – Examples include SWYOR-70C074 (Pictured), SUR-322AD4, GLO-1BBE55 and SOMDOR-4EFC05.
Type IIC style buckles – Examples include BH-7FCB64 (Pictured) and HAMP-66F2F4.

Type IIIA and IIIB

Type IIIA style buckles – Examples include LVPL-71B7F1 (Pictured) and BERK-ED2E37.
Type IIIB style buckles – Examples include SUSS-FDFE86 (Pictured) and KENT-BFDB96.

Early Medieval Zoomorphic Buckles

Early Medieval buckles initially do not feature zoomorphic form or decoration. It is not until the late Early Medieval period that buckles again feature animal representations in their design. It was in this later period that buckles once again became more common following a decline in the early Early Medieval period. It is thought that buckles in both the late Anglo-Saxon and Viking-age worlds may have been worn by both men and women, in sets with strap-ends (Kershaw 2013, 173-5). 1,672 Early Medieval buckles are recorded on the PAS database, 314 of which have been described as featuring zoomorphic style. Different art styles derived from Scandinavian influences used on Early Medieval buckles feature animals within their form and decorative elements.

LIN-D9C500 Borre style zoomorphic buckle

Buckles in the Borre style, in use from the late 9th to the late 10th century, may feature animal heads on the pin rest with the best-made examples having drilled dots for eyes on the animal heads. Examples on the database include LIN-D9C500, SWYOR-E29015, WILT-952048 and WILT-9FD11C.

NMS-75BB29 Ringerike style zoomorphic buckle

Ringerike style (dating from the end of the 10th century and throughout the 11th century) buckles often feature animals seen in profile. On well-made buckles they tend to be seen in relief; on cheaper buckles engraved outlines are used. The commonest type of buckles with Ringerike-style decoration have a pair of profile animals with their noses abutting the bar, perhaps holding the ends of the bar in their mouths. Examples on the database include IOW-1D9A04, NMS-75BB29, PUBLIC-67E0F6 and HAMP-E64375.

SF-1623C7 Urnes style zoomorphic buckle

The Urnes style (dating from the mid 11th to early 12th centuries) tends to produce decoration which is not symmetrical. Therefore, animal depictions in this style often have limbs ending in tendrils. Examples on the database include YORYM-7D1209, SF-1623C7, SF-DA7852 and NLM-DC37C4.

YORYM-7AA5A3 ‘Anglo-Norman’ zoomorphic buckle

There also appears to be some transitional style buckles from the 11th and 12th century which are influenced by both the Scandinavian-style art and medieval buckle types. One group of these transitional buckles feature animal heads gripping the bar, and a very rounded cross-section to the rest of the frame. They have been described as ‘Anglo-Norman’ in the Meols report (Griffiths et al 2007, 62, nos. 311-314). It was an encounter with a large quantity of these interestingly buckles which first inspired this zoomorphic buckle research rabbit hole and subsequent blogpost. Examples on the database include YORYM-7AA5A3, YORYM-3B89BE, SWYOR-D88C67 and YORYM-2A2729.

Medieval Zoomorphic Buckles

Zoomorphic design continues to be used on Medieval buckles; however, these tend to date from the earlier Medieval period with most dating to the 12th century. Buckles produced in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries typically do not often feature zoomorphic elements. The first type of zoomorphic medieval buckles are the  ‘gaping mouth beast’ style buckles (Ashley and Rogerson 2011) which have been dated broadly to the 12th century on art-historical grounds. These buckles feature either a pin hinged on the base of the animal’s head or the pin the other way round, hinged on a straight bar and resting in a groove on top of the animal’s head.

Ashley and Rogerson Type 1 (NMS-438193)
Ashley and Rogerson Type 2 (SF-E1A115)
BH-E80F64 ‘Standing Animal’ type buckle

Another buckle type which has been dated to the 12th century on the basis of its animal art is the ‘standing animal’ type. This buckle has a D-shaped frame formed from a three-dimensional quadruped, with its head turned to look over its shoulder. Examples on the database include HESH-895616, KENT-B09477, LIN-6480BA and BH-E80F64.

WILT-970E39 Zoomorphic spur or lead buckle

Zoomorphic design does make an appearance on some later Medieval buckles, especially on T-shaped buckles. These buckles, which have been interpreted as spur buckles or – more likely dog leads, sometimes feature an animal head at the outside edge of their oval frame. These buckles do not appear to have been attached to a strap, with some T-shaped buckles being found attached to swivels. These buckles have been roughly dated to the late 13th to early 15th century. Examples include SUR-CFE437 and WILT-970E39.

Post Medieval Zoomorphic Buckles

SUR-B425FF Post Medieval zoomorphic buckle

Zoomorphic design features far less in Post Medieval buckles with few examples on the database. Much of the decoration which has been recognised as zoomorphic comes with the caveat of a ‘possible’ identification. However, there is one rare buckle type that has been consistently recorded as featuring zoomorphic form. These double-looped buckles with zoomorphic projections representing a stylised bird have been dated to the mid 16th to mid 17th centuries. Similar examples can be found in Whitehead 2003, p.48, no. 275 and on the database; SUR-B425FF, SUR-9FD185, HAMP-6639C1 and WILT-B5555C.

The Storied History of Zoomorphic Buckles

This brief overview of zoomorphic buckles has shown that incorporating representations of animals in buckle form and decoration has a long history in Britain. But does this continued use of zoomorphic buckle design suggest that there is continuity throughout British history or simply that an animal design make for a nice buckle with this aesthetic decision being made separate to any continuity. The answer, like many answers to archaeological questions, is probably somewhere in the middle. The continued use of zoomorphic elements within buckle design is likely a reflection of what people wanted to decorate objects with, it just happens that animals are a pretty common choice. The affinity between Roman, Early Medieval, Medieval and Post Medieval zoomorphic buckles is seemingly little more than an ancestral relationship. The continued wider use of zoomorphic styles on various object types, which appeared throughout British history, no doubt influenced the appearance of animal representation on buckles.

These buckles might not be able to provide great insight into any narratives about stylistic traditions but they can inform us about something that is arguably just as interesting, what the day to day lives of those in the past looked like. These are not simply utilitarian buckles but sometimes exquisite pieces that people would have used frequently. From fastening armour, clothes, horse tack to leading dogs, buckles were a quintessential object of everyday life. These zoomorphic styles show that decoration and interesting designs were commonplace in the past. The volume of zoomorphic buckles from the Early Medieval period is especially fascinating as, through the intricate and arguably beautiful zoomorphic designs, it dispels a great deal of the ‘Dark Ages’ perception that loomed heavily over the period for so long.

I for one can say I am never disappointed when a zoomorphic brooch turns up in my finds tray, I find them endlessly charming and I hope I have shared this with you adequately. And, if this blogpost bored you tremendously, I offer my apologies.

Bibliography

Flynn, T. (2008) Buckles – PASt Explorers Finds Recording Guide on the PAS County Pages of the website.

Griffiths, D., Philpott, R. and Egan, G. (2007) Meols: The Archaeology of the North West Wirral Coast. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Hawkes, S.C. and Dunning, G.C. (1961) Soldiers and Settlers in Britain, Fourth to Fifth Century: With a Catalogue of Animal-Ornamented Buckles and Related Belt-Fittings. Medieval Archaeology, 5 (1), pp.1-70.

Kershaw, J. (2013) Viking Identities: Scandinavian Jewellery in England. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Rogerson, A. and Ashley, S. (2011) Some Medieval Gaping-Mouth Beast Buckles from Norfolk and Elsewhere. Medieval Archaeology 55, pp.299-302.

Whitehead, R. (2003) Buckles 1250-1800. Chelmsford: Greenlight Publishing.

Hello from the new North and East Yorkshire Finds Liaison Assistant

Posted on by adamrivett

Hello all! My name is Adam Rivett, and I am the new Finds Liaison Assistant for North and East Yorkshire working with the excellent Portable Antiquities Scheme team based out of the Yorkshire Museum in York. I expect most of you already know our amazing Finds Liaison Officer Rebecca Griffiths so I’m sure you also know how lucky I am to be working with such a knowledgeable and friendly person. During my time within the North and East Yorkshire PAS team I’m certain I will learn a huge amount from Rebecca and hopefully I’ll make her life easier as we tackle all the interesting, remarkable and occasionally confusing finds brought our way. I must also mention the current Headley Trust Intern working with the team, Eve Donlon, who has welcomed me very kindly and been a great help over my first few weeks getting settled here.

It might be helpful if you knew a little more about me so you can hopefully understand why I am so excited to be where I am today. Growing up in Wiltshire meant that there was no shortage of history and archaeology surrounding me, perhaps that was the subconscious factor that swayed me towards my archaeological future. Following my first proper introduction to the subject during A Level Archaeology classes, I was certainly hooked. I completed a BA in History and Archaeology at Canterbury Christ Church University and an MA in Experimental Archaeology and Material Culture at the University of York. For both courses I utilised the PAS database in my dissertations which explored British Bronze Age culture and the impact that bronze technologies may have had on it. Carrying out this work cemented my passion for small finds and my desire to get involved with the PAS. Now I am here, I am absolutely loving it! I hope I can carry over the skills, experience and insight I have gained over the years and bring them into my role with the PAS.

During my time here, I think it would be great to provide everyone with a little insight into the work we do and some of the finds I record. Therefore, I will be sharing information about the finds on my Twitter account in the popular #findsfriday format. You can check it out at @YORYM_FLA. You can also find Rebecca and Eve’s #FindsFriday posts on their Twitter Accounts; @YORYM_FLA and @YORYM_Intern. I look forward to sharing with you some of the objects we’ve worked with here and sometimes finds which have confused and confounded us. The first object I ever recorded has already featured on my Twitter account. I had the pleasure to identify and record a very lovely, if not a little incomplete, Roman Trumpet brooch. I was taken aback at how vivid the enamel was, even after such a long time in the ground. You can find out more about this object at https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1086386.

YORYM-CE571F Rights Holder: York Museums Trust

Everyone I have met so far for this job has been incredibly welcoming and kind; Rebecca and Eve have been excellent and curatorial staff from the Yorkshire Museum have been very supportive. Getting to know everyone in the Portable Antiquities Scheme and York Museums Trust team has been a pleasure and it is very rewarding spending time with other people who get so excited about archaeology, small finds and well-deserved tea breaks. I have already been taught so much after just a few weeks and cannot wait to learn even more!

Spotlight On… A Henry II Penny

Posted on by Eve Donlon

This blog post is part of a new series we’re calling ‘Spotlight On…’ where we examine PAS finds in context. We’ll aim to shed some light on what was happening in the world during the first life of these finds. This week, the spotlight falls on a twelfth-century coin. Let’s explore the events that were happening during the decade in which this coin (and coins like it) were first circulating in England. 

An image of a twelfth-century coin. The obverse shows a portrait with the inscription HENRICUS REX. The reverse is a short cross with pellets and HUGO ON EVERW.
Medieval Coin : Penny of Henry II. Copyright York Museums Trust. License: CC-BY.

This is YORYM-0FED25: a silver penny dating from the twelfth century. You can view its full PAS record here: Record ID: YORYM-0FED25 – MEDIEVAL coin (finds.org.uk) This penny was struck sometime between c. AD 1180 and c. 1189, which is a decade that falls right at the end of Henry II’s reign. It was minted in York by the moneyer Hugo, and it was found in Ryedale, North Yorkshire.

Sometimes it can be difficult to relate the finds we identify to the events that were occurring during their time, and that’s why we’ve created this new blog series. These objects were as real to their contemporaries as any of your belongings are to you. In its first life, before it was hidden under layers of earth for a metal detectorist to find, this coin might have passed through dozens or even hundreds of human hands. To help us to understand how this coin fits into history, we’ve considered what else was happening in the world around the time Hugo struck this coin in York. In this penultimate decade of the twelfth century, what events were impacting the people of Yorkshire? What was happening in England? And what events were occurring at the same time across the world?

First, let’s take a look at our coin. The obverse – that is, in this case, the side with the bust – is inscribed with the legend HENRICVS REX (‘King Henry’). The reverse is of the short cross type and says HVGO ON EVERW (‘Hugo in Everwich’, this being one of the many historic names of York. A tip: if you want to explore the Pipe Rolls or any other medieval document from this period and you’re struggling to find mentions of Yorkshire, search instead for Everwichshire.

Now that we’ve examined our coin, let’s take a look at what was happening in Yorkshire at the time it – and other coins like it – was minted.

UP NORTH: YORKSHIRE IN THE 1180s

At this time, much of Yorkshire’s industry revolved around the cloth trade alongside mining and agriculture. York was relatively powerful, being the seat of an archbishop, but this seat was left empty during the period 1181 to 1191. During this period, the crown was collecting large sums of money as a direct result of the empty position, and this may have been a contributing factor as to why the role was not filled for so long. The sums of money collected are recorded in the annual rolls of pipe of the time.

Yorkshire had a rapidly changing landscape during the thirteenth century. In the decades before this coin was struck, a huge number of abbeys and religious buildings sprung up across the county. These sites, which now seem ancient (and which are largely ruined, in large part due to the damage they sustained during the Dissolution) would have been relatively new at the time this coin was struck. Most of Yorkshire’s most recognisable abbeys were under a century old. Fountains Abbey would have turned 50 in 1182 – it must have still seemed somewhat new to the people who lived in the area, and some of them would still have remembered the landscape prior to the abbey’s establishment.

A yellow and black timeline with an illustration of an abbey in the bottom left corner.

This timeline illustrates the building of five of Yorkshire’s major abbey sites.

St Mary’s of York was founded in 1055, with the abbey re-founded in 1088 on a larger site. The surviving ruins in the Museum Gardens are from the thirteenth century.

Whitby Abbey was re-founded in 1078 after standing as a ruin for centuries following raids by Danes. in the 1220s, most of the structure was rebuilt, and it is this structure that is visible today.

Rievaulx Abbey was founded as England’s first Cistercian monastery in 1132.

Fountains Abbey was founded in 1132 and became the second Cistercian monastery in northern England just three years later.

Byland Abbey was founded in 1135, but the monks did not settle at the present site of the abbey until 1177.

Maybe this coin was part of one of the many transactions that took place involving these religious sites. It may also have been part of someone’s wages. Perhaps this coin was held by someone involved in the cloth industry, or it passed through the hands of someone in the king’s household. We know from the Constitutio Domus Regis the amount that members of the king’s household were typically paid. Here’s what this penny would have been worth to one important member of the king’s household.

Aquarius duplicem cibum et quando rex iter agit .i. denarium ad pannos regis exsiccandos et quando rex balneat .iiii.j denarios exceptis tribus festis annuis.
The water bearer has double rations and when the king is on the road, he has a penny for drying the king’s clothes, and when the king takes a bath, he has 4 … pence, except when the king takes a bath at the three annual feasts.

CONSTITUTIO DOMUS REGIS: DISPOSITION OF THE KING’S HOUSEHOLD, ED. AMT, EMILIE AND S.D. CHURCH. PP. 208-209

ROYAL AFFAIRS

This coin was minted at some point during the final decade of Henry II’s life. It is a time marked by difficulties, as much of Henry’s reign was, and it is in these final years that his constant battles with his sons reach their peak. Gerald of Wales recounts an anecdote in De Principis Instructione describing the often difficult relationship between Henry and his children. He says that there was a painting commissioned by Henry on the wall of a chamber at Winchester, and this painting depicted an eagle being attacked by its four chicks: three of the chicks claw and scratch at the paternal eagle, which another is poised to take out its eyes. When questioned about the meaning of the painting Henry apparently responded:

Quatuor’, inquit, ‘aquile pulli quatuor filii mei sunt, qui me usque ad mortem persequi non cessabunt. Quorum minor natu, quem tanta dileccione nunc amplector, michi denique longe grauius aliis omnibus et periculosius nonnunquam insultabit.

The four eagle chicks are my four sons, who will not cease persecuting me to death. The youngest of them, whom I now love with such affection, will eventually attack me more seriously than all the rest and sometimes more dangerously.

GERALD OF WALES, INSTRUCTIONS FOR A RULER: DE PRINCIPIS INSTRUCTIONE, BOOK 3, CHAPTER 26, ED. ROBERT BARTLETT (OXFORD SCHOLARLY EDITIONS ONLINE: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2020), 680-681.

In 1183, Henry the Young King (the eldest of Henry’s children with Eleanor of Aquitaine to survive childhood) died while on campaign against his father and his brother Richard. 1185 marked a failed expedition to Ireland by Henry’s son John, who was forced to return in defeat; shortly afterwards his son Geoffrey died in a tournament in Paris. In 1187, Saladin’s capture of Jerusalem stirred calls for another crusade, with Henry and his two surviving sons – as well as French rival Philip II Augustus – throwing their hats in the ring. By 1188, Henry’s relationship with son Richard was under severe strain. Helped by ongoing pressures from Philip II Augustus, war broke out, and by the summer of 1189 Henry was dead.

All of this is happening as our coin is being minted and passed around Yorkshire. It begs the question: how much would this royal turbulence have impacted the day-to-day lives of people living in Yorkshire? What awareness might they have had of the events that were occurring largely abroad? And what did they think when they saw this coin, struck with the portrait of a king, and reflected on what was happening in the world around them?

CONCLUSION

This Yorkshire coin was brought into the world shortly as Temüjin (the future Genghis Khan) was gathering power. The astrolabe was finally making its way to Europe, having been developed in classical antiquity but perfected in more recent times by Islamic scholars, whose leading knowledge of astronomy and mathematics was breaking scientific barriers in their dozens. North Africa and much of the Iberian Peninsula were under control of the Almohad caliphate, remaining so for another thirty years.

These pennies may be little, but they’re symbolic of so much more than small change. This coin emerges from a context of global change, scientific development, literary advancement, and plain old interesting times. It might not be a fancy locket containing a lock of hair, or a diary indicating a twelfth-century person’s innermost thoughts and feelings, but it is part of a wider story.

I hope this blog post has helped to contextualise this find. You can access the record here [YORYM-0FED25] and explore other examples of Henry II coinage over at the Portable Antiquities Scheme website.

RESOURCES USED

Links to publicly available Pipe Rolls via Internet Archive: Medieval source material on the internet: Pipe rolls (medievalgenealogy.org.uk)

Allen, Martin. ‘The Archbishop of York’s Mint after the Norman Conquest’. Northern History, xli (2004).

Amt, Emilie and S.D. Church, eds. Oxford Medieval Texts: Dialogus de Scaccario: The Dialogue of the Exchequer; Constitutio Domus Regis: Disposition of the King’s Household. Print 2007; published online 2019. https://www-oxfordscholarlyeditions-com.libproxy.york.ac.uk/view10.1093/actrade/9780199258611.div1.23?milestones=2 
DOI of this edition: https://dx-doi-org.libproxy.york.ac.uk/10.1093/actrade/9780199258611.div1.23

Cook, Barrie. ‘The Royal Household and the Mint (1279-1399)’. The Numismatic Chronicle (1966-), vol. 149 (1989), pp. 12-133. https://www.jstor.org/stable/42667574. 

Gerald of Wales. Instructions for a Ruler: De Principis Instructione. Edited by Robert Bartlett. Oxford Scholarly Editions Online: Oxford University Press, 2020.

Map, Walter. De nugis curalium: Courtiers’ Trifles. In M. R. James, C. N. L. Brooke, and R. A. B. Mynors (eds). Oxford Medieval Texts: Walter Map: De Nugis Curialium: Courtiers’ Trifles. Print 1983; published online 2019. https://www-oxfordscholarlyeditions-com.libproxy.york.ac.uk/view/instance.00250987?milestones=5.6.title.

Nightingale, Pamela. ‘The Rise and Decline of Medieval York: A Reassessment’ in Past & Present, February 2010, no. 206. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40586938. 

Tillott, P.M., ed. A History of the County of York: the City of York. London: Victoria County History, 1961. British History Online. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/city-of-york.

Introducing North & East Yorkshire’s Headley Trust Intern!

Posted on by Eve Donlon

Hello! I’m Eve Donlon, the current Headley Trust Intern for North and East Yorkshire. I work as part of the Portable Antiquities Scheme team alongside Finds Liaison Officer Rebecca Griffiths (and am based across the hall from the amazing curatorial team of the Yorkshire Museum). Over the next few months, I’m hoping to share some of our work with you here and on the PAS social media, including over at my Twitter account (@YORYM_Intern). I feel really lucky to be undertaking this internship, taking my first steps into working with artefacts instead of old books – before joining the PAS, I completed a BA in English Studies and an MA in Medieval Literatures and Languages. It’s been great to carry over some of the skills I learned in that area and bring them into the PAS. 

To help share more information about some of the finds that come to us through the PAS in North and East Yorkshire, I’m going to be posting here on our blog. I’m working on some shorter posts about some of the most common objects that come to us through the PAS, as well as longer pieces exploring archaeological finds in context. The first post in this new ‘Spotlight On…’ series is coming soon and will explore a fascinating twelfth-century coin minted in Yorkshire. 

My work so far has been really varied and exciting. The biggest part of my first two weeks was getting to know the team at the Portable Antiquities Scheme and York Museums Trust. Everyone has such amazing skills and talents, and the range of interests is so exciting – but the uniting factor is that we do all get VERY excited about the objects we get to work with! So far, one of my favourite objects is the spindle whorl: I posted one for my very first #FindsFriday, and I’m excited to see more as they come in. You can take a look at the PAS record for this object (YORYM-D2E94A) here.

Medieval to Post-Medieval Spindle Whorl. Copyright: York Museums Trust. License: CC-BY.

I also had the opportunity to attend an event with FLO Rebecca at the Treasure House in Beverley. It was related to the amazing exhibition currently happening there, which is called Treasure! Hidden Hoard and Fabulous Finds – definitely worth a visit. On the day, I had the opportunity to speak to some lovely visitors about the work of the PAS. It was really nice to see people getting excited about the objects we’d brought with us, and we were kept busy chatting about archaeology all day long. Here’s Rebecca and I chatting about some of our objects:

An image of Rebecca Griffiths (left) and Eve Donlon (right) standing behind a table of artefacts. Rebecca holds a dress hook. On the table are two small coins.
Rebecca and I attending an event at the Treasure House in Beverley in October 2022.

For updates on our work at the PAS and exciting #FindsFriday content, follow me on Twitter @YORYM_Intern and follow Rebecca at @YORYM_FLO.