IOW-223303: Medieval or Post-Medieval Coin Weight for a Double Excellent

Rights Holder: Kent County Council
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COIN WEIGHT

Unique ID: IOW-223303

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Published

A complete and worn cast copper alloy square uniface (probably) coin weight of late fifteenth century to early sixteenth century date (AD 1469 - AD 1504). Length: 15.1mm; width 14.2mm and 4.0mm thick. Weight: 6.42g. (99.0 grains). The edges of the weight are bevelled and also have file marks. The decoration on the obverse is barely visible due to wear. On the obverse, there are two crowned busts facing each other within a double circle of pellets. The busts represent Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain (r. 1469-1504). The reverse is apparently plain. However, it may have originally been decorated but has since disappeared due to wear. The artefact dates from the late 15th century (Ferdinand married his cousin Isabella in 1469) to the 16th century. According to Withers and Withers (1995, 30-31), 'coins of these monarchs, from Spain and the Low Countries, were issued in large quantities and were used all over Europe, including Britain. Weights can be round, square or hexagonal and are often a century or more younger than the coins'. The weight is probably for a double excellent (Withers and Withers 1995, 71)

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: AD 1469
Date to: Circa AD 1504

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 15.1 mm
Width: 14.2 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Weight: 6.42 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 7th October 2007

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: IOW2007-1-497

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete

Spatial metadata

Region: South East (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
District: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Isle of Wight

Spatial coordinates

Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
Discovery circumstances: Metal detecting rally
General landuse: Cultivated land
Specific landuse: Operations to a depth greater than 0.25m

References cited

Author	Publication Year	Title	Publication Place	Publisher	Pages	Reference
Withers, P. and Withers, B.R.	1995	Lions Ships and Angels: Identifying Coin-Weights Found in Britain	Llanfyllin	Galata Print	30-31 and 71

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

Recording Institution: IOW
Created: 16 years ago
Updated: 13 years ago

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