1 August 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Fake Byzantine Coin Pendant Is First Evidence of 6th-Century Elite in Thaxted, Essex

Discovery of a rare 6th-century pseudo-Byzantine gold coin pendant near Thaxted sheds new light on elite presence in early medieval Essex.

A finely crafted gold pendant — a 6th-century imitation of a Byzantine coin — has been unearthed near Thaxted, Essex, marking the first known archaeological evidence of elite groups living in the area during the early medieval period.

Measuring 19.6mm (0.7in) in diameter, the high-quality object was discovered by a metal detectorist and declared treasure by a coroner. Experts say the find sheds new light on the hidden aristocracy of post-Roman Britain.

Declared treasure by a coroner, the pendant has sparked major interest from historians and archaeologists. The Saffron Walden Museum hopes to acquire the artifact after it is assessed by the British Museum’s Treasure Valuation Committee.

The pendant is a finely crafted imitation of a gold solidus issued by Emperor Justin II (r. AD 565–578). On the obverse, the emperor is depicted helmeted and armored, holding a globe-topped Victory figure and shield, with the Latin inscription DN IVSTINVS PP AVG (“Our Lord Justin, Eternal Augustus”). The reverse shows the personification of Constantinople seated, bearing a scepter and cross-topped globe, with the inscription VICTORIA AVGGG and mintmark CONOB indicating the Constantinople mint.

What makes this piece exceptional is not only its design but its transformation into jewellery. The suspension loop, featuring five longitudinal ribs typical of the late 6th to early 7th century, was deliberately placed above the emperor’s portrait — suggesting it was meant to be worn with the emperor’s image proudly displayed. The worn reverse indicates it rested against the wearer’s skin for a long time, reinforcing its personal and symbolic significance.

The 19.6mm (0.7in) diameter high quality gold coin pendant is the first evidence of "elite groups of people" in the Thaxted area in the 6th Century. Credit: Colchester and Ipswich Museum Services
The 19.6mm (0.7in) diameter high quality gold coin pendant is the first evidence of “elite groups of people” in the Thaxted area in the 6th Century. Credit: Colchester and Ipswich Museum Services

According to Essex County Finds Liaison Officer Lori Rogerson, “This find is flipping what we thought we knew about Essex at this time on its head. We have no written records from this period for the county, so this pendant literally shines a light on that dark age.”

While such pseudo-imperial solidi were minted by several post-Roman European kingdoms — including the Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Lombards, Visigoths, and others — they are more commonly found in regions like Kent, Suffolk, or Norfolk. This makes the Thaxted find a particularly rare example for Essex.

“These high-quality gold items are elite objects,” Rogerson explained. “They don’t appear in commercial archaeology digs, so without chance finds like this, we wouldn’t know these elite individuals even existed in Essex during this period.”

The discovery adds to a growing body of elite early medieval artifacts in the region. Previous notable finds include the lavish Prittlewell burial chamber (dubbed the “Prittlewell Prince”) unearthed near Southend-on-Sea in 2003, as well as high-status items from Colchester, Chelmsford, and a finger ring from Epping Forest.

“This pendant confirms that early medieval Essex had a more complex and wealthy elite society than we previously thought,” Rogerson added. “We’re now seeing evidence of high-status individuals from all corners of the county.”

As interest grows around the pendant, it not only contributes to our understanding of Essex’s forgotten past but also underscores the importance of metal detecting and community archaeology in uncovering the hidden layers of British history.

Cover Image Credit: Colchester and Ipswich Museum Services

Related Articles

Archaeologists Unearthed a Rare Hoard of Hasmonean Coins in Jordan Valley

31 December 2024

31 December 2024

A team of archaeologists from the University of Haifa discovered a rare hoard of approximately 160 coins during an excavation...

Archaeologists Uncover lost Indigenous Settlement of Sarabay, Florida

9 June 2021

9 June 2021

The University of North Florida archaeological team is now quite sure that they have uncovered Sarabay, a lost Indigenous northeast...

3600 years old Unique ancient drinking bowls on display at Boğazkale Museum

15 August 2021

15 August 2021

The 3,600-year-old fist-shaped drinking bowls found in excavations in Hattusa, the capital of the Hittite Civilization, which shaped the Anatolian...

Metal Detectorist Finds on 4,000-year-old Dagger in Poland Forests

24 February 2024

24 February 2024

A copper dagger more than 4,000 years old was found in a forest near the town of Jarosław on the...

Game Bone Stones from a Roman Military Strategy Game Found in Hadrianopolis Ancient City, Türkiye

10 January 2025

10 January 2025

During the excavations in Hadrianopolis Ancient City in Eskipazar district of Karabük, 2 bone game stones belonging to the military...

Ancient DNA Reveals Surprising Maternal Lineages at Neolithic Çatalhöyük

28 June 2025

28 June 2025

New research, utilizing ancient DNA analysis, is challenging long-held assumptions about kinship and societal structures in one of the world’s...

Croatian Team Finds a Way to Effectively and Permanently Preserve Stuka Aircraft Wreck Under the Sea

11 December 2024

11 December 2024

 The ICUA Zadar team of conservators and archaeologists carried out in situ underwater conservation of the wreckage of the Junkers...

The Jinn of Girnavaz Mound

6 February 2021

6 February 2021

Girnavaz mound is in the north of Nusaybin district of Mardin province and Nusaybin 4 km is away. It is...

Impressive proof of technology transfer in Antiquity times “2700 year- old a Leather Armor”

20 July 2022

20 July 2022

Design and construction details of the unique leather-scaled armor found in a horse rider’s tomb in northwest China indicate that...

A Unique 2000-Year-Old Oil Lamp Found in Israel

5 May 2021

5 May 2021

Archaeologists have discovered a rare 2,000-year-old oil lamp in David, Jerusalem. Archaeologists have discovered a rare oil lamp, shaped like...

Evidence of the Birth of Archaic Monotheism in Anatolia found at Oluz Höyük, “Havangah prayer at Oluz Höyük”

27 March 2022

27 March 2022

Oluz Höyük, located 25 kilometres west of Amasya, is an ancient city which has rich findings of religious structuring. During...

Gruesome Evidence of Prehistoric Cannibalism: Child Decapitated 850,000 Years Ago at Atapuerca

28 July 2025

28 July 2025

In a chilling archaeological discovery, researchers have uncovered direct evidence that a child was decapitated and cannibalized approximately 850,000 years...

Altar site for Greek goddess Demeter unearthed in Turkey’s ancient city of Blaundus

21 December 2021

21 December 2021

An altar site for the Greek goddess Demeter was unearthed during the ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Blaundus,...

The 7th-Century Lombard Kings’ Tombs Found in Pavia, Italy

24 December 2024

24 December 2024

The excavations, conducted between September and October by the Catholic University, uncovered numerous burials attributed, on the one hand, to...

USF team discovers 2,000-year-old Roman house during excavation in Malta

8 August 2023

8 August 2023

A team of researchers and students unearthed a 2,000-year-old Roman house in Malta, complete with a waste disposal system and...

Comments
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *