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Description: | Copper alloy (round) uniface coin weight for a gold Half Angel dated to the later medieval and post medieval periods post 1601 (1464 - 1642). The weight itself has been abraded in the plough soil and some of the obverse detail has been lost. This abrasion has also removed the metal from the coin weight causing it to weigh less than it originally did. The front face of the weight depicts the standing winged figure (St. Michael) with left leg straight and right leg bent, holding spear and spearing dragon (beneath figure) to the right hand side. The dragon is mostly lost at the foot. St Michael is shown with a halo and spread wings. The image is enclosed within a circle which is clipped by the corrosion. The reverse is plain and flat with a number of deep patinated scratches from a file. There are also a series of raised ribs, possibly not deliberate, possibly caused by a pair of pliers, these marks are also patinated.The weight is a mid green colour with a polished patina; a light green powdery corrosion is present on both surfaces. It measures 13.1mm diameter, is 2.5mm thick, and weighs 2.25 grams (34.6 grains). Gold Half Angels usually weighed 40 grains (1464-1601), 35 ½ grains (1601-1619). It seems most likely that this weight was produced post 1601; however the amount of metal lost cannot be accurately measured. It is highly unlikely that this weight was for a quarter angel (1554-1601) which had a weight of 20 grains
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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