SOM-82FA94: SOM-82FA94: Medieval lead token

Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
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TOKEN

Unique ID: SOM-82FA94

Object type certainty: Probably
Workflow status: Awaiting validation

Probable lead token of late Medieval date. The object bears strong similarities to a token illustrated in Fletcher (2005, p.40), which is suggested to be of 15th century date and is one of a series from this period that appear to have been strongly influenced by contemporary coin designs. The illustrated example is decorated with a cross formed from two sets of parallel lines, with a single pellet in each quadrant, echoing, albeit simply, the long-cross coinage of this period. This particular example, however, is much more crudely executed, with a set of off-centre parallel lines crossed at one end by a single line and with a pellet only in one quadrant (with perhaps a slight one in the quadrant adjacent to it). However, the similarities are enough to suggest that this is probably a token of a similar, though cruder, type. The reverse of the object is undecorated with a raised circular section in the centre - probably the remains of poor casting. Fletcher (ibid. p.37) suggests that they fact that these tokens were imitating coins suggest that they probably had a number of commercial uses in place of official small change. Diameter: 34.49mm, Thickness: 8.14mm, Weight: 47.18g

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1400
Date to: Circa AD 1500

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Thickness: 8.14 mm
Weight: 47.18 g
Diameter: 34.49 mm

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 20th October 2009

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: Entry 011986

Materials and construction

Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete

Jetton / token data

Denomination: Uncertain
Obverse description: Two parallel lines, slightly off centre, crossed by a single straight line towards one edge. A pellet can be seen in one of the sections.
Obverse inscription: None
Reverse description: No design, a further sub-circular piece of lead with a casting flaw in the centre has been attached.
Reverse inscription: None

Spatial metadata

Region: South West (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Somerset (County)
District: Mendip (District)
To be known as: West Pennard

Spatial coordinates

Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Other chance find
General landuse: Cultivated land
Specific landuse: Character undetermined

References cited

Author	Publication Year	Title	Publication Place	Publisher	Pages	Reference
Fletcher, E. and Payne, G.	2005	Leaden Tokens and Tallies: Roman to Victorian	Essex	Greenlight Publishing	37&40

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

Recording Institution: SOM
Created: 14 years ago
Updated: 13 years ago

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