Rights Holder: Adrian Marsden
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BROOCH
Unique ID: NMS-C7A205
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
Copper alloy nummular brooch with traces of gilding. A remarkable example in that the central part carefully replicates both sides of a gold aureus of the young Caesar Marcus Aurelius dated to AD148-9. This is surrounded by a double border of pellets, the remains of either a catchplate or (more probably) a hole for a pin, being preserved at approximately 3 o'clock on the reverse side of the brooch. The size of this central disc, the 12 o'clock die axis, and the style of the execution make it clear that an actual coin has been used in the production of this brooch; presumably a mould was taken of this original coin, mounted in an identical setting.
The coin itself, an example of RIC III, 445, with a reverse showing Fides standing right with corn ears and a basket of fruit, is known only in gold and so what we have here is surely a gilded copper alloy reproduction of (no longer surviving) nummular brooch (or perhaps a pendant) in gold. Dating is difficult but these brooches tend to belong to the ninth and tenth centuries.
Diameter 24.5mm (approx) and weight 4.31g
Find of note status
This is a find of note and has been designated: County / local importance
Class:
nummular
Sub class: Weetch type 2.A
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 800
Date to: Circa AD 1000
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Weight: 4.31 g
Diameter: 24.5 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 1st January 2014 - Thursday 3rd April 2014
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
SMR reference number: 41341
Other reference: E19367
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Norfolk (County)
District: South Norfolk (District)
Parish or ward: Costessey (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TG1812
Four figure Latitude: 52.66186293
Four figure longitude: 1.22217204
1:25K map: TG1812
1:10K map: TG11SE
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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