Mould
Date Made/Found: 1200-1800
Material and Medium: Sandstone
Dimensions: Overall: 94 x 26 x 114mm
Place Object Found:
Rotherham
Department: Archaeology
Accession Number: 1969.432
This mould for lead tokens was found at Brinsworth, near Rotherham. Lead tokens were easy to produce locally and were widely circulated. Moulds like this would have been used to make simple tokens with a cross design.
Tokens were unofficial coins produced by local traders and organisations, usually when there was a shortage of small denomination coins. Lead tokens were used from about 1250 onwards. In the 1610s official copper farthings began to be produced but they were easily counterfeited. Traders decided to issue their own tokens, often stamped with their name and town. From the late 1700s onwards, many organisations issued tokens, sometimes as payment for workers.
Display Location:
Weston Park Museum
