PURSE

A fragment from a cast copper-alloy purse bar of Medieval to Post-Medieval date. The central shield-shaped boss and short sections of each arm survive intact, the remainder missing due to old breaks. The boss is rectangular in section, flaring slightly at the centre, and has a vertical circular perforation through which the now missing swivelling suspension loop would have been attached. One face of the shield bears a moulded letter S within a moulded border that follows the edge of the boss, and the other bears the letters XX within a similar border. Arms extend from both sides of the boss and are rectangular in profile and plan with thickened collars where they join the boss. The remains of a poorly preserved inscription on both sides of the purse bar are evident on the surviving portions of the arms, although they are mostly missing due to old breaks. One side reads [AVE MARIA]/XX/G[RACIA PLENA] (Hail Mary full of grace), while the other reads [DOMIN]V/S/[TECVM] (The Lord be with you). It measures 56.84mm in width, 15.29mm in height, 9.20mm in thickness, and weighs 20.45g. This is the central section from a purse frame or bar of Medieval to Post-Medieval date. It belongs to the LMMC Type A2 purse bars (LMMC: pp. 165, fig. 50) and dates to the late-15th to early 16th centuries AD.