Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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Unique ID: HAMP-95D98A
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A medieval copper-alloy French jetton. 'Moor's head' type inscribed AVE MARIA GRACIA P, dating to c.1350-1425. Probably minted at Tournai. See Mitchiner (1988, 158) no. 373.
The object measures in diameter 20.1mm, thickness 0.7mm, and weighs 1.15g. It appears that the blank was not big enough to accommodate the full designs on the dies.
Notes:
Examples of Moor's head jettons have been found in 14th and 15th century levels in London. According to Mitchiner (1988, 157), 'the Moor's head was first used as an emblem by Queen Marguerite de Provence, wife of Louis IX, who died in 1275. It appears on some of her jettons'. The arcuate cross is a common reverse of the Moor's head jettons and replaced an earlier 'R', which can be compared to early lettered 'I/R' jettons. The author suggests that 'IR' stands for 'Ieton de la Royne' ('jeton of the Queen') and that Feuardent believes that such jettons may have been employed in the queen's almonry.
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by a museum - not a Treasure case
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1350
Date to: Circa AD 1425
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 0.7 mm
Weight: 1.15 g
Diameter: 20.1 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st January 1970 - Sunday 31st December 2000
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Other reference: Winchester Collections AY 568
Museum accession number: WINCM: AY 568.319
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete
Class: French
Group: Moor's Head
Type: (M368-378a) - Unknown: c. 1250 - c. 1521
Denomination: Jetton
Obverse description: Moor's head facing right with hair bound
Obverse inscription: AV-E mARIA : GRACIA P
Reverse description: Double-stranded arcuate cross fleury, central lis; small crosses outside cross
Reverse inscription: A-[VE] mA-RI
Die axis measurement: 7 o'clock
Degree of wear: Worn: fine
4 Figure: SU6031
Four figure Latitude: 51.07519782
Four figure longitude: -1.14493897
1:25K map: SU6031
1:10K map: SU63SW
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mitchiner, M. | 1988 | Jetons, Medalets and Tokens: The Medieval Period and Nuremberg | London | Hawkins Publications | 158 | 373 |