Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
JETTON
Unique ID: DOR-E0943E
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A copper-alloy French jetton. 'Moor's head' type inscribed AVE MARIA GRACIA P on the obverse. The reverse legend appears blundered and reads MA VE RI [-]. The reverse design is a double stranded arcuate cross fleury with a fleur de lis at the centre and a florette in each angle. Probably minted at Tournai.It appears that the blank was not big enough to accommodate the full designs on the dies.
Date: Late Medieval c. 1350 - 1425
Reference: Mitchiner (1988, 158) no. 371 & 372.
Diameter: 20.51 mm
Weight: 1.53 g
Similar jettons are recorded in PAS database records SUR-DF6ADC and HAMP-95D98A where Rob Webley noted: "Examples of Moor's head jettons have been found in 14th and 15th century levels in London. According to Mitchiner (1988, 157), 'the Moor's head was first used as an emblem by Queen Marguerite de Provence, wife of Louis IX, who died in 1275. It appears on some of her jettons'. The arcuate cross is a common reverse of the Moor's head jettons and replaced an earlier 'R', which can be compared to early lettered 'I/R' jettons. The author suggests that 'IR' stands for 'Ieton de la Royne' ('jeton of the Queen') and that Feuardent believes that such jettons may have been employed in the queen's almonry".
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1350
Date to: Circa AD 1425
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Weight: 1.53 g
Diameter: 20.51 mm
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: SCMS 019530
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete
Jetton/ token data
Class: French
Group: Moor's Head
Type: (M368-378a) - Unknown: c. 1250 - c. 1521
Denomination: Jetton
Obverse description: Moor's head facing right
Obverse inscription: +AVE MARIA GRACIA P
Reverse description: Double stranded arcuate cross fleury with a fleur de lis at the centre and a florette in each angle
Reverse inscription: MA VE RI [-]
Degree of wear: Worn: fine
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Dorset (County)
District: West Dorset (District)
Parish or ward: Sydling St. Nicholas (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SY6399
Four figure Latitude: 50.7893798
Four figure longitude: -2.52627387
1:25K map: SY6399
1:10K map: SY69SW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: HAMP-BE9A6E
Object type: JETTON
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A worn copper alloy medieval jetton of the Moor's head type, issued in France as a stock jetton struck for the Queen and her almonry and dati…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: HAMP-216108
Object type: JETTON
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A copper alloy medieval jetton of the Moor's head type, issued in France as a stock jetton struck for the Queen and her almonry and dating to…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SF-7B9330
Object type: JETTON
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A stock jetton struck for the Queen and her almonry, 14th-15th century, of Moor's head type, the Moor's head was first used as an emblem by Q…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618