File:Roman Trial Piece (FindID 858642).jpg

English: Lead probable trial piece fragment. A fragment apparently torn from a disc of an estimated diameter of at least 33mm and thickness 1.2mm cut from cast lead sheet. A design and legend is die-stamped on one side, which is taken to be the display face, with an image and lettering standing proud in low relief. The other side has a central blob of pressed and congealed melted lead with a smaller [diameter c.15mm] disc on top. The small disc bears a fungiform or T-shaped motif, again this is stamped and in low relief. The combination of a larger and smaller disc with an element between them recalls the construction of cloth seals, a late medieval and post-medieval artefact type. Other aspects of the piece, however, point to a Roman date.

The naturalistically rendered image on the larger disc shows a spirited horse walking left. The horse has a long tousled tail. A rider sits with his leg almost straight and with his right arm raised as if brandishing a spear, an active posture at odds with that of his ambulant mount. The left arm may appear in ghostly form angled downwards to hold reins. A textured area at the thigh may represent the skirts of a cuirass. At least five tiny [c.0.5mm diameter] red glossy spots appear: two close to the rider's foot and the others near the horse's hindmost foot. These are not part of the design, and may be adventitious markings. An exergual line below the horse divides the image from a legend, of which the angular letters: [--]ADRIANO remain. The image and legend resemble a coin reverse of just under 30mm diameter, though the image has not been produced by using a coin as a stamp, as this would have produced a retrograde legend. About one third of the larger disc is lost, its edges are lightly crumpled, and it retains patina on its plainer areas.

The finder credibly suggests the name Hadrian may be intended by the legend. Hadrian reigned AD 117-138. The second century is the most productive period for Roman material culture, in part because of the military activity he promoted in Northern Britain. The style of the image is Classical. The subject of an armed rider in Classical style recurs on die-stamped brooches of similar size to this object ascribed to the 2^nd century (Mackreth 2011, vol. 1 pages 154-155; vol. 2 plate 104). This might be a trial piece for the manufacture of such a brooch. These figurative brooches are linked to temples or shrines, as are [albeit in dissimilar native style] 'horse and rider' brooches of the period. An implied connection with shrines and the making of brooches, as well as the literate legend, commend this as a 'find of note'. Suggested date: Early Roman, 100-200.

Diameter: 33mm, Thickness (overall): 4.3mm, Weight: 12.10gms