Lead token of Medieval to Post Medieval date (1300-1750), the face bears a pattern of irregular lines radiating out from the centre. The back is plain, and its smooth surface suggest that it has been finished after casting. Diameter 23.6mm, Thickness 1.9mm, Mass 7.56g.
With some justification, Ivor Noel Hume described lead tokens as 'that least understood item in the numismatic field' (Artifacts of Colonial America, 1969, 173). He was able to quote exampes ranging in date from a piece bearing the arms of Elizabeth I (1558-1603) to one bearing a date of 1714. That said, other examples come from Medieval contexts, at Trigg Lane, London finds came from deposits of 13th to 15th century date (Milne and Milne, Medieval Waterfront Development at Trigg Lane, London, London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, Special paper No 5, 1982, 102-106, fig.64-64, pl. 73-76,77.). The function of these tokens is also unknown, some resemble coins, but most do not, suggesting that they were not intended to represent money. They appear to have been used along waterfronts (London and Dublin) and it has been suggested that they may have been used as tallies given to workers for each load carried and exchanged for money at the end of the day. They could also have been used as taven tokens so that the bar staff did not get to handle cash.
Lead token of Medieval to Post Medieval date (1300-1750), the face bears a pattern of irregular lines radiating out from the centre. The back is plain, and its smooth surface suggest that it has been finished after casting. Diameter 23.6mm, Thickness 1.9mm, Mass 7.56g.
With some justification, Ivor Noel Hume described lead tokens as 'that least understood item in the numismatic field' (Artifacts of Colonial America, 1969, 173). He was able to quote exampes ranging in date from a piece bearing the arms of Elizabeth I (1558-1603) to one bearing a date of 1714. That said, other examples come from Medieval contexts, at Trigg Lane, London finds came from deposits of 13th to 15th century date (Milne and Milne, Medieval Waterfront Development at Trigg Lane, London, London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, Special paper No 5, 1982, 102-106, fig.64-64, pl. 73-76,77.). The function of these tokens is also unknown, some resemble coins, but most do not, suggesting that they were not intended to represent money. They appear to have been used along waterfronts (London and Dublin) and it has been suggested that they may have been used as tallies given to workers for each load carried and exchanged for money at the end of the day. They could also have been used as taven tokens so that the bar staff did not get to handle cash.
A RDF representation of FAKL-8ECC9E
2018-09-12T11:39:05+01:00
2018-09-14T19:32:19+01:00
FAKL-8ECC9E
FAKL-8ECC9E
GB
en-GB
The Trustees of the British Museum
The Trustees of the British Museum
1
http://purl.org/NET/Claros/vocab#Thumbnail
Attribute as courtesy of the British Museum
A thumbnail image of FAKL-8ECC9E
Lead
Primary material of object
Complete
23.6
Diameter
1.9
Thickness
7.56
Weight
By Attribution 3.0
The period from for the object
Attribute as courtesy of the British Museum
A full resolution image of FAKL-8ECC9E
1300
1750