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TOKEN
Unique ID: FAKL-8F0309
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
Lead token of Medieval to Post Medieval date (1300-1750), the face bears, in deep relief, an incoherent pattern of large dots. The back is plain and slightly convex suggesting that it has been cast in an open mould. Diameter 17.5mm, Thickness 2.7mm, Mass 4.39g.
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.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: Circa AD 1750
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 2.7 mm
Weight: 4.39 g
Diameter: 17.5 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 1st January 2018 - Thursday 1st March 2018
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: Birm 560
Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Numismatic data
No numismatic data has been recorded for this coin yet.
Spatial metadata
Region: West Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Staffordshire (County)
District: South Staffordshire (District)
Parish or ward: Codsall (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SJ8504
Four figure Latitude: 52.63354099
Four figure longitude: -2.22306851
1:25K map: SJ8504
1:10K map: SJ80SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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