Rights Holder: Sussex Archaeological Society
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
TOKEN
Unique ID: SUSS-FF2E52
Object type certainty: Probably
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A cast, lead biface token (Powell type 2/2), possibly converted from a cloth seal, dating c. 1600-1850.
The irregular thick flan is bent slightly in half with the initials C or G B on one face and an I on the reverse.
Measurements: diameter:19.26mm; thickness:2.34mm; weight: 5.0g.
There is a small indentation on the flan that may represent the connecting strip of a cloth seal, there is evidence that discs from cloth seals were converted into tokens by removing the connecting strip and smoothing the break, (Elton 2017: 18). Lead tokens had a wide variety of potential uses such as tallies, gaming pieces, tickets, weights, etc. and are believed to have been locally produced; they are therefore difficult to date precisely. The Powell classification system, in which there are over 30 categories, attempts to classify these leaden tokens according to the designs featured on each face, but it does not assign any chronology. This falls into Powell type 2 (initial).
Class: Powell type 2/2
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1600
Date to: Circa AD 1850
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 2.34 mm
Weight: 5 g
Diameter: 19.26 mm
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead Alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Numismatic data
No numismatic data has been recorded for this coin yet.
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: East Sussex (County)
District: Lewes (District)
Parish or ward: Wivelsfield (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TQ3420
Four figure Latitude: 50.96384746
Four figure longitude: -0.09317994
1:25K map: TQ3420
1:10K map: TQ32SW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elton, S. F. | 2017 | Cloth Seals: An Illustrated reference guide to the identification of lead seals attached to cloth | Oxford | Archaeopress Archaeology | 18 |
Similar objects
Find number: LEIC-2233DE
Object type: TOKEN
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A Medieval to Post Medieval lead token, dating to AD 1500-1600. Powell type 2 (initials). The token is circular in plan, o…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: LEIC-3CC1CE
Object type: TOKEN
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A Medieval to Post Medieval biface lead token, dating to AD 1500-1600. Powell, type 10 (heads and bust) and Powell type 2 (init…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: PUBLIC-B159AB
Object type: CLOTH SEAL
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A complete Post Medieval four-part lead alloy Alnage cloth seal from the reign of George I (AD 1714 – 1727). The Alnage system ended in …
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