Seal matrices are just one of the things that used to be rare but are fairly common today due to the number unearthed by detectorists. This is great for new collectors but not so good for established collectors who have seen the value of their collections drop in price.

This matrix will be 14^th-15^th century in date; it is 23mm tall and has a suspension loop at the top. The base is hexagonal in shape, 19mm across the flat areas and has an incuse geometric design. Collectors prefer named matrices, or those with a coat of arms, rather than those that leave little or no scope for further research.

Valuation

Jamie’s seal matrix scores high on condition and is close to the same state it was in when lost a few hundred years since. Pricewise, I’d say it should be worth £60 – £80.

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It is made of base metal and the hoop is slightly oval in shape. The tapering shoulders are decorated with an incuse feathered design and the bezel is inset with red, blue and green enamel. It is definitely Roman and 2^nd-3^rd century in date.

Valuation

There is some loss to the enamel but the ring is otherwise in good condition and quite attractive. Over the last few decades detectorists have found hundreds of Roman finger rings so they don’t sell for prices as high as they once did. However, provided that potential buyers don’t mind the loss to the enamel this ring could sell for around £100. With some competition in a saleroom it might even sell for a bit more.

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So, what can this be? I can’t be absolutely certain but I would suggest this could be the footplate from an Anglo-Saxon great square-headed brooch. These things date from the pagan period, which lasted until well into the 6^th century. The image on Stephen’s find looks rather like Jesus Christ but this can be ruled out because of the date of manufacture. Similar images can be seen on other Anglo-Saxon artefacts dating from the 5^th to early 7^th centuries. They might be intended to represent a pagan god or a warrior.

If this is the foot from a great square-headed brooch then shouldn’t the image be the other way up? This type of brooch was worn by women on each side of the chest. When worn the square head was at the bottom and the foot at the top. We know this from the careful excavation of Anglo-Saxon female graves. So, the head is the bottom and the foot is the top. Therefore, when being worn the image would be the correct way up.

Most of the front face of great square-headed brooches was gilded. On Stephen’s find the area surrounding the image is glided, which adds more weight to my suggestion that it is the footplate of a brooch.

Where is the rest of the brooch? It might be somewhere on the field, so I suggested that another search would be worthwhile. Should there be any indication that the footplate could be part of a burial then any excavation work should be handed over to archaeologists.

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Colin’s find is a Bronze Age axe head, which is an example of the flanged type and will date from circa 1500 BC. The wide flange on each side spreads out to a point. Had there been a ridge roughly in the centre then this axe head would have been an early example of the palstave type.

Valuation

Like many things, Bronze Age axe heads aren’t as rare as they used to be. However, a plus point is that this one is earlier than most of those that turn up. Unfortunately, the images appear to show a good deal of corrosion, which is a minus point. As it stands my valuation range would be no higher than £70 – £80.

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It is a bronze figure, which is 70mm tall and corroded in places. The hands are missing; they may have broken off or could have been lost through corrosion. Jamie said there are trades of gilding. After looking at the face and body covering I’m still uncertain if it is meant to represent a man or a woman.

The figure could be Roman and date from circa 2^nd century AD. However, one source mentions that figures similar to this, made in England and the Low Countries, were gilded and used as decorative elements on altar crosses; most are said to date from the 15^th century. So, does this figure date from the Roman period or was it made during the later medieval period?

Plausible ideas on the date of this find would be welcome.

Valuation

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Richard’s find is made up of tweezers, a nail cleaner and an ear scoop, all held together by a metal loop. It’s fairly obvious what the nail cleaner was used for but the tweezers would come in handy for many different purposes. The scoop could be used for cleaning ears but continued use for that purpose could damage the internal working of an ear. Perhaps during the Roman period but certainly during later periods, scoops were used to extract wax when heavy duty materials were being sewn; adding wax to a needle helped it slide through such things as thick leather.

Valuation

The individual instruments in this cosmetic set are in good condition. Whilst the separate pieces are not uncommon as detecting finds, whole sets are far scarcer. I’d suggest a pre-sale auction estimate of £80 – £120. On a not particularly good day it might sell for the lower figure but with competition in a saleroom the hammer price might even push through the higher estimate.

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The type I see most are those of the T-shape. Around 20 years since a detectorist sent me an image of 50 of them, all finds and all in good condition. I have often wondered exactly how many he had found during his detecting career.

Lots of Roman brooches are in the shape of animals and birds and they are often decorated with enamel. Brooches very similar to Tom’s find are in the shape of a duck. However, they have a duck’s bill whereas the brooch featured here is in the shape of a bird with a pointed beak. Therefore, whilst this brooch is in the shape of a bird, it doesn’t look like the usual duck.

Valuation

Much of the enamel has survived, which is a plus point. Minus points include the missing fastening pin and catch plate. In its present state of preservation I’d price this Roman bird brooch at £70 – £90.

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Ian sent in images of his finds and three denarii, all silver on a base metal core, are featured here (click an image to enlarge).

The denarius of Tiberius is the best preserved; on the obverse only very small areas of silver plating are missing and the reverse is fully covered.

Fourrees

Fourrees were made from the Republican period onwards and Ian’s latest one dates from the 4^th century. Some are nothing less than forgeries but when the plating is intact they look just like the real thing. Whilst some are certainly forgeries, others are struck from official dies. Whether the striking of fourrees at official mints was government policy or the work of dishonest workers is impossible to say.

I’ve seen a number of very convincing fourrees and if the plating had been intact I would have accepted them as genuine. Leading on from this, I wonder how many examples are in private and museum collections masquerading as solid gold and silver coins.

There is a market for fourrees with keen collectors of Roman coins. However, to achieve a decent price they would have to be offered up in a sale that included a good range of Roman material.

Valuation

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Amongst the better finds are such things as buckles. The majority are fairly modern but it’s not unusual for them to be old or very old. Here is a buckle that came in from Glyn Peak.

Glyn’s find is large (about 60mm at its widest point) and in unusually good condition. It has integrally cast decoration on the face and the back is hollowed out, to reduce the weight and the amount of metal needed to cast it. Buckles of this type are usually dated to the 16^th or 17^th century but I lean towards the later date..

Valuation

In auction sales I’ve seen groups of buckles put together and sold as a single lot. Perhaps this is to be expected, for over the years detectorists have unearthed a huge number. Glen’s buckle is large and in well above average condition but as they aren’t widely collected I’d give it a price range no higher than £12 – £15.

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Due to the lack of small change, in the last couple of decades of the 18th century lots of traders issued copper tokens. By 1810 there was also a shortage of silver coins so traders started to issue silver tokens.

Valuation

Paul’s find is a bit discoloured but is otherwise in about VF condition. A large number must have been made, for York tokens of this type are not particularly scarce today. In its present condition this specimen would be worth £30 – £40.

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