Pseudo-Emperor Solid Reveals Essex Elite-History

The golden pendant of the pseudo-Baizin solid coins discovered by metal detectors in Essex is providing new revelations for the wealthy elite existence in the early medieval Essex.

The gold coins are a copy of known issues by Emperor Justin II (565-578 AD). On the front is a portrait of the emperor with helmet and corsage, facing forward, keeping victory on the globe in his right hand and shield on his left. The inscription reads DN IVSTI-NVS PP AVG, which stands for “Dominus Noster Justinus Perpetuus Augustus”. The opposite is the anthropomorphism of Constantine Polis sitting on a scepter and crossing on a globe. The inscription reads Victori-A Avggg, meaning “Victoria Augustorum” (the victory of the three emperors) and comes with Mintmark Conob (i.e., Constantinople Mint).

Early medieval kingdoms in the European continent cast a rough imitation of the primitive empire Roman and Byzantine gold coins, a kind of imperial authority and reputation that attempted to cadge with gold coins that were rarely recycled in the Germanic region at the time. Examples of pseudo-rock entities minted by Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Lombardy, Burgundian, Burgundian, Burgundian, Burgundian, Burgundian and Ostrogothic rulers have been found in England, more in pendant forms than unmodified coins.

The suspension ring is placed above the middle of Justin II’s head – indicating that the coin was worn outside with an outward-facing portrait, as the stop mold on the reverse side is located at 5 o’clock, not at noon. The obvious wear on the reverse side confirms that it is on the skin side. The cyclic style of the five longitudinal ribs is typical of pendants produced in the late 6th and early 7th centuries.

Historian Lori Rogerson said this is one of many recent discoveries, “At this point, our view of Essex flipped.”

The county found Lenovo officials added: “Because we didn’t have written records during this period, it was really in the darkness of people working in archaeology and heritage – so it really made that time articulate that time.” […]

Unlike Kent, Suffolk or Norfolk, similar objects on Essex are rare in Essex.

“Gold is indeed high quality, it is an elite object, but we have not found these high-status objects through commercial archaeology, so if we have not found this, we would not know that there are these elite populations in this area at this time,” she explained.

The pendant has been declared a treasure and will now be evaluated by the Valuation Committee. Local museums will have the opportunity to obtain assessed value. The Saffron Walden Museum hopes to get it.