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Description: | Anglo-Saxon coin-brooch. The object is a silver penny of Edward the Confessor (1042-66), of the Hammer Cross type, c. AD 1060, which has been mounted as a brooch or badge. The original coin was minted in Thetford, probably by the moneyer Godlef, although the secondary treatment of the coin means that most of the inscription is no longer legible, with only __FONÐET__, from the middle of the reverse inscription clearly legible.The reverse of the coin, showing a cross, has been gilded for display, and five holes have been pierced in the coin, one in the centre and one at the end of each arm of the cross, into which silver bossed rivets have been inserted, with the domed bosses projecting as additional decorations against the gilded background. Four of these are still in place, but one of the outer ones is missing, leaving a hole. Part of the hinge attachment for the pin remains in place, as does the base of the catchplate. These have been soldered into place, rather than riveted. There is considerable distortion of the obverse behind the join with the fittings, including damage to the gilding, and it seems likely that this damage occurred when the fittings were attached. The fact that this has damaged the gilding, and this damage has not been repaired, together with the missing bossed rivet, may indicate that work on the brooch was abandoned once it became clear that this damage had taken place.The object has been not been subjected to metallurgical testing, since the bulk of it is a coin, and sufficient previous analysis of the coinage of this period has taken place to indicate a high silver content, far in excess of the threshold of 10% set down by the Treasure Act (1996). The addition of gilding and silver fittings will not have diminished the precious metal content significantly, and may even have added to it. As established by the precedent of several previous treasure cases, while a single coin would not normally be considered Treasure, the secondary treatment means that it must be considered as an object, rather than a coin, and therefore qualifies as Treasure. | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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