Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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Unique ID: FAKL-BA6262
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
Lead unifaced token of Medieval or Post Medieval (1300-1750) date. The face bears a raised pattern in the form of a cross set within ring around its edge.. The surface on the back of the token suggests that it was cast. Diameter 15.9mm, Thickness 1.5mm, Mass 2.42g.
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 action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Middle
Period to: MODERN
Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: Circa AD 1750
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 1.5 mm
Weight: 2.42 g
Diameter: 15.9 mm
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Other reference: Birm 565
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
No numismatic data has been recorded for this coin yet.
4 Figure: SJ8527
Four figure Latitude: 52.84029941
Four figure longitude: -2.22412774
1:25K map: SJ8527
1:10K map: SJ82NE
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.