Friday, January 17, 2014

More Communion Tokens from the Ground

There is a website that profiles metal detector finds in the UK that includes communion tokens.
     And to start things off, we have a new CT to ponder. This one is from Dunnichen, dated 1691. It is a small square piece measuring 16mm with a diagonal cut on one corner and a broken edge at the opposite corner. The obverse legend along the edges reads: DVN/ICH/IN with the date: 1691 at the bottom. A five-point star is in the center. The reverse reads: M/HL(?).
     This CT is not listed in Brook, K&L, or Burzinski.
Unlisted CT from the small village
of Dunnichen in Angus.
     Not listed! That is correct.
     As such, it is one of a kind until someone comes forth with another. Unique or two/three-of-a-kind CTs are out there just waiting to be discovered. Sometimes they are hiding in plain view. Few folks know they are rare until two collectors discover it missing from their sets.
     Such pieces show up in the marketplace, but by that time, their singular status is known (as the seller has searched unsuccessfully for an attribution). For example, an unlisted roundish piece from Panbride (in Angus) sold on ebay last June -- it also appeared to be a dug piece.
     More examples of previously unattributed pieces can be found in Burzinski's listings, as some CTs are only known from other collections (notably the Norweb and Macmillan collections); hence, they were missed by previous catalogers. This begs the question: Did Burzinski miss any others? I would think so, as there are collections out there that he undoubtedly did not have access to. And, of course, we have new discoveries like the one described above in this posting.
     Consequently, dug CTs offer a front-seat view of what is being discovered and added to the list of known tokens. Here is the link to the site: Dunnichen CT from UKDFD site.
     This website is run by five metal detectorists. The acronym stands for UK Detector Finds Database. Just type UKDFD in your search engine to find it. The homepage describes the mission as follows:
The UKDFD is an initiative by members of the metal-detecting community to promote good practice within the hobby. It is an easy-to-use, friendly and supportive online facility for detectorists to record their finds and ensure that the information is preserved for future generations.

     In perusing the website, I found 24 CT listings with more than one unlisted CT described.  Also, a few CT friends like a Clackmannan heart were represented. There are other relics pictured and described too.

1 comment:

  1. MHL: HL = Henry Lindsay appointed to Dunnichen in 1682 but deposed in May 1716 because he had joined the '15 rising. Deposed "for unsoundness of principle by deserting the Protestant cause". Additional details in Fasti.

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