Ancient Coins and Antiquities

Early 14th century, a cast lead plummet or lead stylus, measuring 7 cm x 1.5 cm, 50.54g, of cylindrical form with rounded ends, pierced at one for suspension, with a raised border enclosing the name ‘+rogervs’. on the front and possibly repeated on the back. Would originally have been pointed at one end but has worn down with use. Shown at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1987/88 as part of the Age of Chivalry Exhibition and published in the catalogue as number 427. Fine with a light grey patina, extremely rare £80-£100

Found at Abbots Bromley in Staffordshire which is a deserted medieval village

A lead scribes plummet would have been used to rule horizontal and vertical lines on parchment between tiny holes in the outer margins. An example found in the Seine was inscribed ‘karoli scriptoris’ .