Silver Searcher
Gold Member
I'm not really a big fan of the UK treasure law, I think it's got flaws that need ironing out, But this was a find that is not very valuble, but very interesting, and it needed more research.
I found this a few weeks back on a field I have hunted many times, only quite small in length (less than 3 inches) it's also incomplete and (damaged) triangular in shape. It's made of Silver and has script on two sides, the outher side has carved animals and a flower.
The item dates to the Medieval period and was possibly a spoon, as all the sides were meant to be viewed, I doubt that it was something that would have been worn. I knew that the Museum would be interested, because finding items with script is quite rare, especially Silver items. So I duly declared it to the local Museum (York) sent them pictures and a email and the following week down and gave it to the liason officer.
She told me that the British museum had showed a great interest and were looking forward to having it sent to them. The remaining script on one side of the piece would have read if complete... “ARENVS REX”.
When complete this would probably have read IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDEORVM (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews) which appears frequently on medieval rings and brooches and was used for its amuletic power. This suggests that the object dates to the 13th or 14th century.
SS
I found this a few weeks back on a field I have hunted many times, only quite small in length (less than 3 inches) it's also incomplete and (damaged) triangular in shape. It's made of Silver and has script on two sides, the outher side has carved animals and a flower.
The item dates to the Medieval period and was possibly a spoon, as all the sides were meant to be viewed, I doubt that it was something that would have been worn. I knew that the Museum would be interested, because finding items with script is quite rare, especially Silver items. So I duly declared it to the local Museum (York) sent them pictures and a email and the following week down and gave it to the liason officer.
She told me that the British museum had showed a great interest and were looking forward to having it sent to them. The remaining script on one side of the piece would have read if complete... “ARENVS REX”.
When complete this would probably have read IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDEORVM (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews) which appears frequently on medieval rings and brooches and was used for its amuletic power. This suggests that the object dates to the 13th or 14th century.
SS
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, good to see you are going back to the fields, show us how it's done
. Whatever it is, it's bloody good to see you posting again. I might even go out detecting tomorrow to celebrate
