MEDIEVAL BROOCH

A silver demi-gros struck at Valenciennes for Margaret of Constantinople, countess of Hainaut between 1275 and 1280.Obv. MONETA VALENCENENSIS; Knight on horseback galloping right with right arm outstretched holding sword.Rev. MARGARETA COMITISSA/SIGNVM CRVCIS; Short cross pattee with pellet in each angle.The reverse has been gilded as the side for display which is slightly unusual as normally the side of the coin with the cross is used. The obverse shows traces of a silver attachment, now incomplete, that, when intact, would have consisted of a soldered loop on one edge and a hook on the other. In medieval England there was a tradition of large coins being converted into dress accessories such as this which coincided with the appearance of Edward I's groats between 1280-1283. After the removal from currency of these groats, similar sized continental pieces were used and make up around 39% of the currently recorded coins known to have been converted in this way. This is the second example of a demi-gros of Margaret being treated in this way after the find from Old Buckenham, Norfolk. A small piercing on the circumference suggests it may have been worn as a pendant after the dress ho