MEDIEVAL PERIOD. 13th century(?). Lot of two PB or Potin Tokens(?). Includes: (20mm, 7.88 g, 2h). Diademed bearded head left; EVI(?) above / Figure standing facing, holding palm frond and wreath // (19mm, 9.88 g, 12h)/ Diademed head right; ALV to right / Figure standing facing, holding palm frond and wreath. Cf. Mitchiner, Jetons 81-4 (for series). Some roughness. Average VF. Very rare.
From the Dr. Malcolm Lyne Collection. One purchased from David Miller, June 2011, the other ex Baldwin 100 (27 September 2016), lot 592 (part of).
Mitchiner attributes this series to the mid-late 5th century AD, a time when Britain was ruled by the Brythonic "Kings of Dumnonia," based off a handful found in spoils from a construction project in Billinsgate, London. Among other items from the spoils were several Roman coins and small artifacts, Norman and later coins, ands over 1000 later lead tokens. Post-Roman and Saxon period items were almost entirely absent, save for these tokens and a handful of decorative bracteates. Mitciner's reasons for dating these pieces so early are unclear, but considering the significant number of later coins and tokens, they are more likely to belong to the 13th century or later. To this cataloger, the style bears a superficial resemblance to the earliest English pewter and lead tokens (cf. Mitchiner & Skinner I, pl. 3-6).
Descripción