Rights Holder: Kent County Council
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BROOCH
Unique ID: KENT-F016EE
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete and highly worn gilt copper-alloy Medieval annular brooch dating c. 1200-1400AD. The brooch's frame is circular and relatively flat and very very thin, roughly vasica in shape. One side has the inscription "[J:E:S:]V:S N:A:Z:A:R:E:N:V:[S] R:I:Z [___]" in Lombardic script while the other is blank. it is possible the script was intended to originally read IESUS NAZARENUS REX IUDAEORUM, or Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, or simply IESUS NAZARENUS REX. Both are relatively common inscriptions on this type of brooch (Egan and Pritchard 1991, 164, 1336/1337) however it is unclear now if this was intended and the RIZ is a blundered REX due to the extensive wear of the brooch or it was intended to read something different. The pin is missing and it is not clear if it had a specific placement on the brooch or was free 'running', particularly unclear due to the break in the brooch obscuring it full circumference. The brooch is now a light green colour with tiny flecks of gold gilding just visible in the first Z and the E of NAZERNVS, as well as substantial dirt coverage.
Measurements: 46.8mm in diameter (frame band 4.32mm wide), 2.09mm thick and 7.38g in weight.
Class:
Annular
Inscription:
[J:E:S:]V:S N:A:Z:A:R:E:N:V:[S] R:I:Z [___]
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Middle
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1400
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 2.09 mm
Weight: 7.38 g
Diameter: 46.8 mm
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Kent (County)
District: Ashford (District)
Parish or ward: Bethersden (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TQ9440
Four figure Latitude: 51.12642113
Four figure longitude: 0.77103907
1:25K map: TQ9440
1:10K map: TQ94SW
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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