File:Coin brooch of Edward the confessor? (FindID 865738).jpg

English: An incomplete Early-Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) gilt-silver coin brooch, utilising a penny of Edward the Confessor (1042-1066), expanding cross penny type, heavy coinage issue dating 1052-53, Minted at London by Spraclinc, North No. 823. BMC Vb.

Description:

Obverse: Diademed bust left, in front sceptre with a trefoil head (Bust d), Legend: ' +EDPE:/.RD REX'

Reverse: Short cross voided with expanding limbs joined at the base by two circles. Legend: 'SPR[A]CELINC [O]N LV'

The coin has been modified by the application of a pin/spring and catch plate arrangement as demonstrated by the rivet holes and gilding on the reverse. This would have been the usual for such brooches. However, at a later date the brooch was damaged creating a scar across the reverse. This may have been from the application of a new catch and pin arrangement flipping the coin over and displaying the obverse, which would have been highly unusual. Another possibility is it relates to the removal of these fixing to return it to service as a coin or beginning of recycling the brooch.

Measurements: 20.21mm in diameter, 1.07mm thick and 1.61g in weight.

Discussion: The brooch is of a type of which appears to have been particularly fashionable from the middle of the reign of Edward the Confessor (1042-66) to sometime in the reign of William I (1066-87). Though the reverse of the coin, showing a cross design which, as usual has been gilded it appears a catch fitting has been changed at some point suggesting it would not have been displayed on its final use. This has usually been suggested to attribute the brooch with talismanic or at least religious significance. While it is impossible to say exactly how soon after the coins were issued they were converted into brooches, it appears that this took place while each coin type was still current, which would mean no more than two or three years between the issue of the coin and the manufacture of the brooch, placing this example sometime in the mid-1050s. A number of Converted brooches of 11th century date are known and have been reported to the PAS and subsequently declared treasure, e.g. 2018 T40 (<a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/884319">IOW-217104</a>), 2016 T564 (<a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/795342">SOM-4BC86B</a>), 2014T21 (<a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/596209">BERK-E472F3</a>).