Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: LON-41A95B
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Early Medieval, Saxon copper-alloy gilded disc-headed pin dating from AD 700 - 800. The remaining pin consist of a disc with a small central hole that would have contained a rivet, below this equidistant from the outer edge of the pin is a second rivet hole which retains its rivet. The front of the disc is decorated with two incised concentric lines within which are oblique rays which run in a clockwise direction. Around this is an incised runic inscription, possible reading from the 12 o'clock position ᛚ ᚪ ᚷ ᛗ ᚹ ᚢ ᛚ ᚠ (l a g m w u l f). On the reverse is a small incomplete catch-plate. The outer flange of the disc is damaged with some parts missing. The incised lines and inscription retain the gold gilding.
Dimensions: diameter: 27.21mm; thickness: 1.00mm; weight: 2.87g
A similar example, the Malton Pin (British Museum number 2000,0508.1) is held by the British Museum. The Malton Pin is more complete with a double incised border and the pin is attached to the back of the disc. Like this example, the it has a series of letters found in the Futhorc alphabet and it is suggested to date to the 8th century AD.
Other disk headed pins with runic inscription on the database are DUR-79B856, LANCUM-EEFFFB, while HAMP-0EE512 has a pseudo-inscription.
References: Owen-Crocker, G R (2004), Dress in Anglo-Saxon England (Woodbridge: Boydell)
Page, R I (1999), An Introduction to English Runes (Woodbridge: Boydell)
Page, R I (1984), 'On the Transliteration of English runes', Medieval Archaeology 28, 22-45
Parsons, D (1991), 'New Runic Finds From Brandon, Suffolk', Nytt om runer 6, 8-11
Notes:
Catherine Johnson per com writes "It is my impression that they are heads of linked-pins, which were worn in pairs or trios across the chest, attached together by tiny chains at their sides. However, the solder on this one may indicate a different use. There is also a linked pin with a decorative face and a futhorc inscribed onto the reverse from Brandon, Suffolk. The Malton and Cumwhitton pins give partial futhorcs beginning with the first six letters, and the Bardney pin gives 11 letters of the futhorc, which, to me, suggests that possibly there was a second pin that gave the beginning of the futhorc. Although this is speculative. I cannot see the letters that well from the photo, but if this pin has the suffix '-wulf', which, with Anglo-Saxon inscriptions suggests a male personal name, it is possible that this pin intends to do so. However, the worn face may reveal a better understanding of the inscription with the x-ray, as you said.
In my PhD I discussed the three pins from Bardney, Cumwhitton, and Malton as linked-pins, a type of dress accessory associated with female dress. The runes are all seriffed and some are rounded, indicating that they were engraved with knowledge of manuscript Roman capitals. To me, I saw these pins as a desire to visibly display a social and educational affiliation with the Christian faith and old Germanic customs, likely by Anglo-Saxon women, whether or not the wearers were literate themselves."
Class:
Disc-headed pin
Sub class: Runic inscription
Subsequent action after recording: Undergoing further examination at a museum
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 700
Date to: Circa AD 800
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 1 mm
Weight: 2.87 g
Diameter: 27.21 mm
This information is restricted for your access level.
Primary material: Copper alloy
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
4 Figure: TQ3680
Four figure Latitude: 51.50258022
Four figure longitude: -0.04195915
1:25K map: TQ3680
1:10K map: TQ38SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.