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COIN
Unique ID: DOR-4EEC18
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A lead trial piece, probably for a coin of King Stephen (1135-1154). This would have been struck from a new set of coin dies before they were used to strike coins in silver.
Obv. Crowned profile holding a sceptre/sword.+STI(EF-)N(E-)R(-)
Rev. Bordered cross with fainter cross behind and dots. +GIL(L-)VLF:ON:NIPE
The object is flat and sub-rectangular with rounded corners
Length: 20.12mm, Width: 18.74mm, Thickness: 2.38mm, Weight: 5.70g
Dr Martin Allen, whose transcription of the legends appears above, has commented that the obverse legend is clearly derived from the official coinage of King Stephen and that the mint on the reverse legend could suggest a moneyer's mark of Newport (Isle of Wight) or Newark. Dr Allen comments that there are no known coins of this type yet recorded.He further notes that the sword in the portarait is paralleled in the coinage of Patrick, Earl of Salisbury.
Notes:
Dr Martin Allen has recorded the item (based on images) in the Early Medieval Corpus of Coin Finds, reference EMC 2016.0200
Find of note status
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1135
Date to: Circa AD 1154
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 20.12 mm
Width: 18.74 mm
Thickness: 2.38 mm
Weight: 5.76 g
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: SCMS 017273
Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead
Completeness: Complete
Coin data (numismatics)
Denomination: Penny
Ruler/issuer: Stephen of England
Mint or issue place: Newark
Category: Coin of Norman and Early Plantagenet England 1066-1180
Obverse description: Profile bust facing left, crowned and holding a sword
Obverse inscription: +STI(EF-)N(E-)R(-)
Reverse description: Short cross with three pellets in an arc in each quarter, a thin saltire cross joins four of the pellets behind the main cross.
Reverse inscription: +GIL(L-)VLF:ON:NIPE
Die axis measurement: 5 o'clock
Coin references
No coin references available.
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Dorset (County)
District: North Dorset (District)
Parish or ward: Sturminster Newton (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: ST7813
Four figure Latitude: 50.9160388
Four figure longitude: -2.31432399
1:25K map: ST7813
1:10K map: ST71SE
Grid reference source: From finder
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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