2018 Feb Finds page

Unique ID: DUR-1079B4

Roman prick spur

A copper alloy Roman prick spur probably dating to the fourth century AD.

The spur is made up of three projecting arms with approximately 90 degrees between each arm. On two of the arms are small loops and a break suggesting one on the third arm. There is a hexagonal area in the centre of the three arms and this is where the spur is attached. The spur is cone shaped. On each of the arms there is incised linear decoration.

Spurs such as this example are thought to be of a British type and have been found in fourth and fifth century contexts. Although spurs are primarily military in character it is not unusual to find spurs of this type in rural locations. Similar examples have been recorded on the PAS database: DENO-8FB8E3 and LIN-D3B115.

Interesting bronze coin - reminds me of the Maravedis revalidated type coin ?

Researching it.21mm, 4.34g

1600's Spanish Lion & Castle 8 Maravedis Cob

1797 George III milled gold third guinea

2.82g, 17.07mm

1667 Isaac Colman, grocer of Colchester in Essex hammered copper trade farthing

Norweb Ref 1171

1377-99 Richard II hammered silver long cross half penny

Obv *ARD x REX x **

Rev TAS/LON/DON - London mint

Glascow Corporation Transport

1st July 1894 - all lines owned by the Corporation but previously leased to the GT&OCoLtd

2ndC Roman silver coin sent for ID

It’s sort of unfortunate that it appears the finder began scraping off the encrustation because it tends to make the legends much harder to read at this point, but on the basis of what I think I see on the obverse, letters suggesting “…M ANTONINVS…” that can sort of be made out between 7:00 & 10:00 on the obverse, I think this may well be a Denarius of Marcus Aurelius, either late during the time he was Caesar to Antoninus Pius or early in his rule as Augustus – this based on the short, neat beard as opposed to the long and scraggly-tending beard in his later portraits. It might also be Antoninus Pius – I give a couple possible comparative examples below. Unfortunately, silver was never a specific goal for me in collecting, so the examples I have are sparse and nothing that matches yours exactly. The obverse of yur piece also appears to have been somewhat double-struck – you can see doubling in the nose – and that is seldom good news for legend readers.
The reverse seems to be a typical Adoptive/Antonine period “laundry list” of titles, TRP number, number of Consulships, etc.
On the reverse I believe that is Roma standing left, holding a small figure of Victory and spear or scepter.

This is from early in M. Aurelius’ time as Augustus

http://www.stoa.org/gallery/album94/ML03_M_Aurel_Providentia_den?full=1

This is Antoninus Pius as Caesar (briefly) under Hadrian and the portrait somewhat favors the profile on your coin:

http://www.stoa.org/gallery/album93/ML01_A_Pius_Caes_Diana_den?full=1

And yours stitched and sized in the same format:

If the details become clearer under further cleaning, send me photos and I’ll be glad to take another shot at it for you.
Mark

1422-61 Henry VI hammered silver farthing, mascule after hENRIC

Rosette- Mascule issue RM.1

Obv hENRIC v R **

Rev TAS/LON - London mint

1400 -1600 mount

The mount is sub-oval in plan and domed in cross section (D-shaped). The front face is convex and undecorated

Medieval hammered silver long cross penny - Quatrefoil with pellet at centre of reverse cross - York mint

Rev S/EBO/RACI - York mint

Interesting post medieval decorative pin - probably dates to 17thC

1299-1300 Edward 1st hammered silver long cross penny - Class 9c - Closed C reversely barred N

Obv +EDWR ANGLE DNS hYB

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

1216 Henry III hammered silver short cross half penny

Rev ALTER.ON - Moneyer Walter

Charles 1st Royal farthing - Harp Type 3 Maltravers 'rounds' 1634- 36

obv CAROLUS D G MAG BRIT

Rev FRAN ET HIB REX

Very unsual hammered coin - not sure if it is silver or lead yet. Legend is not obvious pattern.

Long cross and pellet type one side, another cross on reverse - needs a lot of cleaning up yet

1216 Henry III hammered silver short cross half penny

Rev VND- London mint

1501-1521 Venetian soldino hammered silver coin - Leonardo Lauredan, Doge

Rev: LAVS TIBI SOLI (Thee Alone be Praised). Haloed figure of Christ holding a cross.

Obv: LE LAV DVX S M V (Leonardo Lauredan, Doge. St Mark of Venice.) Doge kneeling before Saint Mark.

Stunning condition 1625 -32 Charles 1st gold Unite coin weight

Obv CARO REX

Rev Crown R XXs , Crown I counter mark

20 shillings

Ref Withers 908

1210-1215 King John hammered silver short cross half penny -Class V

Rev VS ON.RV - Moneyer hENRICVS of Rhuddlan mint Wales

Post medieval cast copper alloy asymmetrical buckle frame, some with with a pointed knop at the end of the loop

The buckle dates from c.1575 - 1700

Britain's Merchant Navy
Generic Design Issue
In use 1900 - 2000's

Bliss Bros Ltd

Rd 665050

Officer & O/R's - 1837-1855

Staff officers button

1862- 1918

Gt Eastern railway and Steam ships button

1464- 1470 Edward IV hammered silver half groat - Crown mint mark

Obv EDWARD' DI GRA REX ANGL Z ***

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON DON - London mint

Rarer 1554-1558 Philip and Mary hammered silver groat - Lis mint mark

1603-25 James 1st Irish hammered silver shilling - 2nd issue - escallop mint mark

obv LACOBUS D.G.MAG BRIT FRA ET HIB REX

Rev HENRICUS ROSAS REGNA IACOBUS

Roman silver hoard coins

Hoard 1 - 3.17g, 17mm

Faustina the elder, wife of Antoninus Pius and mother of Faustina the younger. Posthumous issue by Antoninus pius, Faustina died 141 so it dates between 141-160. Reverse is too profoundly encrusted to determine type, although it might have the legend AVGVSTA (if so, the photo is upside-down) otherwise, it’s a legend ending in “AVG” and could be any of literally dozens of types.

Hoard 2 – 2.89g,18mm

Trajan, 96-117, Mars advancing left carrying trophy and holding spear. Not enough of the reverse legend is clear to date it accurately, but the reverse reads something like this: P M TR P (xxx) COS (x VI) P P  S P Q R – This seems to be the only piece which does not date to the Severan era in this batch.

Hoard 3 - 3.46g, 17mm

Posthumous issue for Faustina the younger by her husband Marcus Aurelius – Faustina II died in 175 and M. Aurelius outlived her until 181 – so that’s the time frame, 175-181. Again, the reverse is so profoundly encrusted that it’s not possible to determine the reverse type

Hoard 4 – 2.48g,15mm

Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus and mother of Caracalla (and Geta) so her coins’ time frame is 193-217. Obverse: [IVLIA] AVGVSTA. The reverse is IVNO [REGI]NA Juno standing left with peacock at her feet. This type was issued at both Rome and Laodicea (in the mid east) they can only be told apart by style – this appears to be a Rome mint product.

Hoard 5 – 3.28g,18mm

. (young) Caracalla ANTONINVS PIVS AVG / FELICITAS AVGG. Felicitas standing left holding caduceus and cornucopiae  (the 2 G’s indicates two co-Augusti, Caracalla and Septimius) Mint of Rome 205 A.D., RIC 124, RSC 64.  

Roman 2nd/3rdC silver hoard

Mark Lehman's initial ID below with poor quality pictures taken on the guys cell phones. I just sent him larger pictures for better ID.

Okay, the top left (obverses) is Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus – probably issued by Severus, there is another group of coins in her honor struck by Caracalla. This appears to be the fairly common JVNO REGINA, Juno with peacock reverse, but the legend is only partial due to the smallish flan not presenting enough room to strike-up all of the reverse.
Top right is Trajan – I’m sure I don’t need to go into detail about who he was and what he did.
The Trajan has a typical reverse of Mars walking right with spear and carrying trophy – it may be able to be dated fairly closely if I can get a little more detail since it has the typical “laundry list” of offices held and the number of times they had been held. Usually this is enough to place them within a year or two, but some combinations of offices which didn’t renew at the same time of year allow them to be dated within months. It’s quite worn and may be as much as a century earlier than the latest of the other four.
Bottom row left is a posthumous issue for Faustina the Elder – wife of Antoninus pius. The reverse is too obscured by encrustation for me to be able to tell what’s happening, but there seems to be very good remaining detail on this piece in general so when cleaned it should be easy to read and identify.
In the middle is a very youthful portrait of Caracalla with the FELICITAS AVG reverse I noted in the earlier email.
On the right is another posthumous Faustina denarius – given the encrustation I can’t be 100% certain whether this is the Elder or the Younger Faustina – I think it’s the Elder. Like the other Faustina, the reverse is too encrusted to tell what’s gong on there.
Something to keep in mind with these posthumus coins of the Imperial women of the Antonines is they were issued in a couple of different emissions, first under Antoninus Pius and then later by Marcus Aurelius. There are also both lifetime and posthumous coins for both Faustinas. That tends to make it a little complicated, so I would really need to be able to read the legends and see the details a good bit better to say exactly who issued these two and when.
I still look forward to better photos as and if they’re cleaned.
Mark

Hoard 6 - 3.06g, 18mm

Caracalla as Caesar – 195-198. Obverse legend is probably [M AVR ANTON] CAES PONTIF. The reverse is PRINCIPI IVV[ENTVTIS] Caracalla in military garb standing left holding baton and scepter, trophy to his right. Mint of Rome, 197, RIC 13, RSC 505.

Hoard 7 – 3.18g, 18mm

Septimius Severus, 193-212.  [SEVERVS] PIVS AVG / [VICT] PART MAX Victory walking left holding wreath and palm, Mint of Rome, 204.

Hoard 8 - 3.17g, 17mm

.  I think what little of the portrait is visible suggests Antoninus Pius, 139-161 – reverse totally obscured but seems to be a figure (possibly Victory) standing or walking left holding object (wreath?) in outstretched right hand.

Hoard 9 &10 – 6.91g,17mm (one coin dia)

only part of one coin’s obverse is visible, it looks like it may be “[A]NTON[…] indicating probably Caracalla, reverse is two standing figures and legend is too badly obscured to read, but I suspect it’s a duplicate of # 6 and the reverse is PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS.  9b reverse is FELICITAS AVG, Felicitas likely standing left holding caduceus and cornucopiae and obverse is too well covered by 9a to be readable at all. Both pieces are almost certainly from the Severan era since that’s pretty much when all the others are on the time line, except for Trajan, of course, and Antoninus Pius. The Severan era included quite a few individuals, both male and female, between 193-238.

Mark Lehman's initial ID below with poor quality pictures taken on the guys cell phones. I just sent him larger pictures for better ID.

Okay, the top left (obverses) is Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus – probably issued by Severus, there is another group of coins in her honor struck by Caracalla. This appears to be the fairly common JVNO REGINA, Juno with peacock reverse, but the legend is only partial due to the smallish flan not presenting enough room to strike-up all of the reverse.
Top right is Trajan – I’m sure I don’t need to go into detail about who he was and what he did.
The Trajan has a typical reverse of Mars walking right with spear and carrying trophy – it may be able to be dated fairly closely if I can get a little more detail since it has the typical “laundry list” of offices held and the number of times they had been held. Usually this is enough to place them within a year or two, but some combinations of offices which didn’t renew at the same time of year allow them to be dated within months. It’s quite worn and may be as much as a century earlier than the latest of the other four.
Bottom row left is a posthumous issue for Faustina the Elder – wife of Antoninus pius. The reverse is too obscured by encrustation for me to be able to tell what’s happening, but there seems to be very good remaining detail on this piece in general so when cleaned it should be easy to read and identify.
In the middle is a very youthful portrait of Caracalla with the FELICITAS AVG reverse I noted in the earlier email.
On the right is another posthumous Faustina denarius – given the encrustation I can’t be 100% certain whether this is the Elder or the Younger Faustina – I think it’s the Elder. Like the other Faustina, the reverse is too encrusted to tell what’s gong on there.
Something to keep in mind with these posthumus coins of the Imperial women of the Antonines is they were issued in a couple of different emissions, first under Antoninus Pius and then later by Marcus Aurelius. There are also both lifetime and posthumous coins for both Faustinas. That tends to make it a little complicated, so I would really need to be able to read the legends and see the details a good bit better to say exactly who issued these two and when.
I still look forward to better photos as and if they’re cleaned.
Mark

I’ll do what I can to describe and date them on a coin-by-coin basis, but the ones that are totally obscured by deposits and/or corrosion products that weren’t able to be ID’d before are still obscure.
- 1.  Faustina the elder, wife of Antoninus Pius and mother of Faustina the younger. Posthumous issue by Antoninus pius, Faustina died 141 so it dates between 141-160. Reverse is too profoundly encrusted to determine type, although it might have the legend AVGVSTA (if so, the photo is upside-down) otherwise, it’s a legend ending in “AVG” and could be any of literally dozens of types.
- 2. Trajan, 96-117, Mars advancing left carrying trophy and holding spear. Not enough of the reverse legend is clear to date it accurately, but the reverse reads something like this: P M TR P (xxx) COS (x VI) P P  S P Q R – This seems to be the only piece which does not date to the Severan era in this batch.
- 3. Posthumous issue for Faustina the younger by her husband Marcus Aurelius – Faustina II died in 175 and M. Aurelius outlived her until 181 – so that’s the time frame, 175-181. Again, the reverse is so profoundly encrusted that it’s not possible to determine the reverse type.
- 4. Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus and mother of Caracalla (and Geta) so her coins’ time frame is 193-217. Obverse: [IVLIA] AVGVSTA. The reverse is IVNO [REGI]NA Juno standing left with peacock at her feet. This type was issued at both Rome and Laodicea (in the mid east) they can only be told apart by style – this appears to be a Rome mint product.
- 5. (young) Caracalla ANTONINVS PIVS AVG / FELICITAS AVGG. Felicitas standing left holding caduceus and cornucopiae  (the 2 G’s indicates two co-Augusti, Caracalla and Septimius) Mint of Rome 205 A.D., RIC 124, RSC 64.  
- 6. Caracalla as Caesar – 195-198. Obverse legend is probably [M AVR ANTON] CAES PONTIF. The reverse is PRINCIPI IVV[ENTVTIS] Caracalla in military garb standing left holding baton and scepter, trophy to his right. Mint of Rome, 197, RIC 13, RSC 505.
- 7. Septimius Severus, 193-212.  [SEVERVS] PIVS AVG / [VICT] PART MAX Victory walking left holding wreath and palm, Mint of Rome, 204.
- 8.  I think what little of the portrait is visible suggests Antoninus Pius, 139-161 – reverse totally obscured but seems to be a figure (possibly Victory) standing or walking left holding object (wreath?) in outstretched right hand.
- 9a. only part of one coin’s obverse is visible, it looks like it may be “[A]NTON[…] indicating probably Caracalla, reverse is two standing figures and legend is too badly obscured to read, but I suspect it’s a duplicate of # 6 and the reverse is PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS.  9b reverse is FELICITAS AVG, Felicitas likely standing left holding caduceus and cornucopiae and obverse is too well covered by 9a to be readable at all. Both pieces are almost certainly from the Severan era since that’s pretty much when all the others are on the time line, except for Trajan, of course, and Antoninus Pius. The Severan era included quite a few individuals, both male and female, between 193-238.
That’s about all I can do with these photos, I hope it’s enough for you.
Mark

1180 - 1189 Henry II hammered silver short cross penny -

Class 1b - pellet before Rex - No serifs to X- 2 left 5 right hair curls

Obv hENRICVS.REX

Rev + RAVL.ON.NORh - Moneyer Ravl of Northampton

Hoard 11 – 2.67g, 19mm

Your photo of the reverse is upside-down – the legend is VOTA PVBLICA – who’s on the obverse is a bit more challenging question, although it looks like one of the youthful Severans.
More books cracked: Geta, Caesar ( 198-209) [GETA CAES] PONT COS youthful bare-headed and draped bust of Geta Caesar, right, seen from behind. VOTA PVBLICA, Geta, togate standing left sacrificing over tripod altar. Struck 205, RIC 38b; RSC 230

Hoard 12– 3.07g, 20mm

. Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus (193-217) IV[LIA] AVGVSTA draped bust right / HILARITAS Hilaritas standing left holding palm-branch and cornucopiae, Caracalla and Geta as children to her left and right. Struck 208, RIC 557; RSC 79

Hoard 13- 2.70g, 19mm

Vespasian (69-79) [IMP C]AESAR VESPASIANV[S AVG] (counter-clockwise) laureate head of Vespasian right / TR POT X COS VIII naked radiate figure standing facing atop rostral column, struck 79.  RIC (119 old vol II)- 1064-5; RSC 559. It should be obvious that this does nt belong to the same hoard/loss as all the similarly encrusted Antonine and Severan denarii from up to a century and a half later.

Hoard 14 – 3.28g,19mm

Septimius Severus (193-211) SEVERVS AVG [PART MAX?] laureate head right / [VICT AETERN?] Victory hovering left holding garland above shield set on base. Struck 200, RIC 170; RSC 670.
There are a couple of different legends found with this reverse type, I believe Vict Aetern is the most likely.
Mark

Just sent Roman silver hoard coins 11 to 14 off to Mark Lehman for ID

1485 - 1509 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - DR by shield

Bishop Sherwood

Taco'd 1247 Henry III hammered silver penny

Rev ROB/ERT/ONC/ANT - Moneyer Robert of Canterbury mint

Romano-British protected loop terret

'Protected loop terrets are usually considered to be Roman and dating to the late first and second centuries AD'

1422-27 Henry VI Annulet issue hammered silver groat (4 pence) Initial mark pierced cross

obv hENRIC DI GRA REX ANGLIE Z FRANC

Outer legend POSVI DEVM ADIVTORE MEVM

Inner legend - VILLA CALISIE - Calais Mint

16thC Tudor gilded silver clothing fastener - reported astreasure to museum

1307- 1327 Edward II hammered silver penny - Cross Moline - Durham Class 11a - one cross arm is crozier

Episcopal coin

Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS hYB

Rev CIVE/TAS/**/DVR - Durham mint

1216 Henry III hammered silver short cross penny

Obv SREX***

Rev .ON. LV - London mint

1334 - 51 Edward III hammered silver groat- Cross pattee

Obv + EDWARD*****

Rev RACI/CIVI - York mint

Georgian spur

1881 The Royal West Surry regiment button

Within a circle surmounted by the crown, the pashal-lamb. On the circle 'The Royal West Surrey Regiment'. Below the circle, a scroll inscribed 'The Queen's'.

1805 George III duty paid mark bust silver spoon handle

Maker RC

Richard Crossley London

1782..1813
(registered Apr 1782; further marks registered up to 1812)

1781 Carlos III Spanish 1 Real milled silver coin

Mexico FF mint

Obverse : Laureate, armored and draped bust, facing right; "CAROLUS·III·DEI·GRATIA", (date) below between dots.

Reverse : Crowned Arms between pillars; "HISPAN·ET IND·R.M.F.F

Medieval badges Ref Mitchiner p244 939 - 941

'A badge for a Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in bronze and dating somewhere around C13/14th possibly very slightly later . This is a very scarce item and it relates to The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem being a Catholic chivalric order of Knighthood that traces its roots to Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade. According to reliable sources in the Vatican and Jerusalem, it began in historical reality as a mixed clerical and lay confraternity (association) of pilgrims which gradually grew around the most central of the Christian holy places in the Middle East, the Holy Sepulchre or the tomb of Jesus Christ.This would have been a pin for a member of the order , there is a mark on the reverse where the original pin would have been fixed '

1770's 4 pence coin weight

Obv D IIII

Rev Makers initials

Eary medieval gilded harness pendant hanger - circle design

Scottish medieval hammered coin star design gold chain - reported as treasure to museum

Total weight of 3 links 1.58g

4thC Roman silver coin sent for ID

This is a silique of Arcadius, 383-408 AD. It’s from the mint of Milan, 397-402 AD.
D N ARCADIVS P F AVG -- VOT / X / MVLT XV // MDPS     

This is quite a decent piece

Mark

c10th Saxon stirrup mount - Type 9 human mask type

Late medieval mount

4thC Roman bronze with interesting obverse sent for ID

I can’t tell you exactly who may be on the obverse, but this is a centenionalis with reverse: CAESARVM NOSTRORVM concentrically around wreath containing  VOT / X(X) in two lines. I can’t tell the mint – your photo needs to be turned 90º counter-clockwise so the “o” shaped ornament at the top of the wreath comes into the 12:00 position.
These were struck for Crispus, Constantine II, Constantius II, Constans and Licinius II in the 320’s AD.
Somewhat like this: http://www.stoa.org/gallery/album164/37_Crispus_CAN_LUG?full=1

Unknown widget ?

Interesting unknown tribe - researching it- hoard addendum coin

Celtic gold qtr stater

1.38g,14mm

50 - 20 BC Essex Wheels quarter, VA 260, BMC 485 and 496, ABC 2231

Gold link with very interesting markings ? 1.02g

ME 117988

Post-medieval copper alloy double-looped buckle frame, both loops trapezoidal. The very distinctive form is as Whitehead 2003 no. 527

c.1620 - c.1680

c1798-c1812 ​

(1st) Tower Hamlets Militia

TH either side of Tower image

Note

The 2nd Tower Hamlets Militia who were formed in 1797 and by 1832 had changed name. This is the third of six known types to the unit​.

1893 Victorian silver pendant - datye letter T

Maker H.W.A

H W Ashford

1884
(registered Sep 1866)

1891..1913
(registered Mar 1890)

Medieval harness pendant hanger

12th C Medieval hammered silver penny - Continental Sterling imitation- Enigmatic Crockard

Obv +IxCOMS ***

Rev VAL/MO

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