Rights Holder: Surrey County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
COIN
Unique ID: SUR-09EA44
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A gold-plated imitation of a Merovingian solidus from the mint of Marseilles, probably from the very late sixth or seventh century, which has been pierced for suspension, and subsequently broken. The obverse shows a crude diademed bust, facing to the right. There are traces of lettering in the field in front of the bust but only the edges of the letters are visible, as the letters were mostly beyond the break line. The design is very similar to a coin in the Fitzwilliam Museum, attributed to Sigebert III (639-56), also pierced for suspension. The reverse has a typical cross on globe design with the letters M and trace of A in field (goes across break-line) for Massilia, and possibly an A in the inscription underneath cross, although this is too worn to be properly legible. The weight is 1.8g. The original nature of the object is uncertain. Coins in this period were often re-used as pendants, but imitation coins were sometimes created specifically for use in jewellery. Since this is an imitation rather than an official issue, it is not certain whether it should be considered as an imitation coin which was subsequently used as jewellery, or an item which was always intended to be jewellery. Normally two coins are required to constitute Treasure, whereas a single item of jewellery would constitute Treasure. However, recent finds of Anglo-Saxon coins which have been converted into jewellery have been found to be treasure, establishing a precedent for single items of coin jewellery to be considered as jewellery rather than as coins for the purposes of Treasure. Gareth Williams, Dept of Coins and Medals, British Museum
Notes:
Treasure Case 2004 T129 Acquired by
Find of note status
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Norfolk Museums
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2004T129
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 636
Date to: Circa AD 659
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Weight: 1.8 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st January 2004
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: Treasure Case 2004 T129
Treasure case number: 2004T129
Museum accession number: 2006.586
Materials and construction
Primary material: Silver
Secondary material: Gold
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Incomplete
Coin data (numismatics)
Denomination: Solidus
Category: Coin of Merovingian Francia
Coin references
No coin references available.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grierson, P. and Blackburn, M.A.S. | 1986 | Medieval European Coinage, Volume I. The Early Middle Ages (5th-10th Centuries) | Cambridge | Cambridge University Press | 406 |
Similar objects
Find number: SWYOR-5528F2
Object type: COIN
Broadperiod: EARLY MEDIEVAL
"Report on a case of possible Treasure from Ainderby Steeple, North Yorkshire (2009 T717) This report concerns what appears to be a tremissis…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: YORYM-701955
Object type: PENDANT
Broadperiod: EARLY MEDIEVAL
TREASURE CASE : 2016 T166.
A gold Lombardic tremissis in the name of the Byzantine Emperor Maurice Tiberius (r.582-602)
Details:
…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: NMS-934673
Object type: HOARD
Broadperiod: EARLY MEDIEVAL
The 'West Norfolk' hoard of 132 early-medieval gold coins and 4 early-medieval gold objects. One coin (no. 117) was found in 1990 and is not …
Workflow: Published
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