✅ SOLVED Interesting Item I cant Identify, Can Anyone Help?

[Frankyg]

Interesting Item I can't Identify, Can Anyone Help?

Hello everyone,

I found this item with my E-Trac a couple of years ago in North Wales. It was deep (About 12") in an unploughed pasture next to a 10th Century Church that I know is built on the site of an earlier church and a Roman temple before that. I've found several Roman artefacts there as well as a range of coins that cover a two thousand year period.

I took this item to the finds liaison officer at my local museum who circulated it but could not identify it other than to say it may have been a Roman Bulla charm medallion that was worn by Roman male children. He didn't show much interest in it but it has intrigued me ever since.

It is made of a mixture of bronze and maybe some lead or gold. If you look at the side - on image it looks like it could be a conglomerate of concreted coins but I haven't tried to separate it for fear of destroying it.

What intrigues me about it is the obvious Celtic/Druid design on it. The design is very similar to Druid designs that I have seen elsewhere. The back of the piece has other markings that I have no opinion on.

I'd be obliged for any opinions.

 

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[rock]

I was thinking it looked like a seal of sorts.

 

[Frankyg]

Yes Rock, I thought about it being a seal but I can't see any lettering or motif that would personalise it. I also thought that it could have been a metal mould used to cast small jewellery.

 

[Broken knee]

I'm no expert, but I would not try cleaning it it.The edges look more like metal bloom or rot, not 3 coins stuck together? Neat find though. HH
Broken Knee

 

[Frankyg]

I don't know if I'm imagining it but if you look at the third picture enlarged, on the left side, can you see a large full frontal human male torso, complete with genitals but with an animal's (possibly a dog) head. It looks like he has a broken spear protruding from his side. The other side shows another figure in the distance. This might be my overactive imagination running wild. What do you think?

 

[Frankyg]

I've outlined the shape I think I can see in this picture. The head look very clear, even the eyes and whiskers like a cats. i promise I'm not drunk!! Can anyone else see it??

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

This is way out of my area of expertise because I deal soley in North American collectibles but my first thought was that it looks like intertwined or intermingled script lettering. These can often be hard to untangle but I have done it before by tracing the different letters each in a different color. But I am probably way off here lol,.

example: 28772 - Waterbury Button

 

[Frankyg]

Thanks Cypress, This as we say in England 'is doing my nut in'. Can you see the torso and Lions head? I'm leaning more towards Irish or Viking for the design. This would fit as the area I found it in was heavily raided and looted by the Vikings back in the day. The Church I mentioned has a Viking leader who was a Christian buried there. His stone, just to confuse things even more, has his name in Latin.

 

[scrapdoggie]

View attachment 736060

I've outlined the shape I think I can see in this picture. The head look very clear, even the eyes and whiskers like a cats. i promise I'm not drunk!! Can anyone else see it??

Theirs another human shape to the right that may be standing further back. The spear may actually be a tool of some sort. This is fun....

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Can you see the torso and Lions head?

no sorry

 

[Frankyg]

Right.......I've had some sleep and come back to this and I can still see the form, clear as day!! If you click on the first image below and open it up to a magnified view you will see my drawing. If you then click 'Next' you will see the original image.

Men in white coats are coming 'cos I think it's a Wabbit!!! (Just Kidding about the wabbit)

 

[nhbenz]

My imagination sees a pouncing lion (rotated image 90 degrees CCW). Marked lightly (look carefully) as I didn't want to cover whats actually there.

 

[Frankyg]

Thanks Nhbenz, This is driving me nuts.....

 

[BuckleBoy]

I don't think you're looking at a concretion of coins for certain. That is a lead or more likely pewter item that has had some edge flaking over the years. And as such (pewter instead of lead,) I'd be inclined to say that this is much newer of an item than you might think. 16th-19th c. is my guess. The florid script that appears to be on it is a dead giveaway, totally different from Roman or Medieval writing styles.Best Wishes,Buck

 

[Frankyg]

Hi Everyone,

I'm amazed at the number of views of this item, 390,

I've sent images to the National Museum Of Wales and they have agreed to take a look at them. I'll post their reply when I get it.
Thanks again to everyone who contributed and looked.
Regards
Frank

 

[Frankyg]

Well I can finally sleep!!!

The museum got back to me and their view is that the item was part of a mould used to make pendants in some local cottage industry. They estimate that it is only about 150 years old.

it's been fun.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Well I can finally sleep!!!

The museum got back to me and their view is that the item was part of a mould used to make pendants in some local cottage industry. They estimate that it is only about 150 years old.

it's been fun.

Yes its called entangled or intertwined lettering and it was popular about that time. Its someones intitials.

Looking through my files, on entangled lettering, I found a better example.