File:Early Medieval, Brooch (FindID 418998).jpg

English: A possible, incomplete cast lead alloy (pewter?), disc brooch of early medieval (later Anglo Saxon / 9th -10th Century) date (800-1000 AD). There is some debate as to whether this is actually part of a brooch or possibly a post medieval lead token; due to significant areas of damage it is impossible to be certain of the identification. However, it is the recorders assessment that the diagnostic elements of design and potential fittings on the reverse suggest that this is a brooch.

If the artefact is a brooch it would have originally been circular, however due to abrasion and plough damage, it is now more oval in plan with a U shaped cross section. Originally the brooch would have been slightly domed in profile. It measures 21.0mm diameter has a maximum thickness of 3.2mm thick, and weighs 4.37 grams.

The front face is decorated with a cast design which is much abraded. The overall design is based around a central raised boss, which is enclosed by a series of concentric circles formed from cast low relief curvi-linear ribs. The central boss is formed by a raised pellet which is heavily abraded. The second and outer concentric circles are decorated, the inner with evenly spaced recessed annulets, the outer with similarly positioned raised pellets. The outer ring is also raised slightly above the other rings giving an relatively clear enclosing rim. The reverse face of the brooch is plain and undecorated. The lower edge has a raised sub-rectangular panel with a clear saltire shaped cross within it. At this point a definite lip is also present. It is possible that this represents all that remains of the applied spring. The catch plate is not present although the metal at this point is cracked and it may have been lost.

The brooch is a mid grey colour with an abraded patina. On most of the raised surfaces and on the edges the patina has been lost and light grey coloured powdery corrosion is present. On the broken edges lamination has started to occur. All of this damage is likely to be due to movement in the ploughsoil. Similar lead / pewter brooches have been recorded by the PAS (mostly in the east of the country) and it is suggested that the original designs for them are based on coins.