Details
LOT 4227
England. Suffolk, Bury St Edmunds 'Boy Bishop' PB Token. Time of Plantagenet to Tudor, circa 15th century AD.
Cast at Bury St. Edmund's. St. Nicholas ('Boy Bishop') series. SAꞂCTVS ꞂICHOLAVS, bishop's mitre / [AVЄ RЄX GЄN-TIS?], long cross pattée, triple pellets in quarters. Cf. Mitchiner & Skinner II group i, 8. Near Very Fine.(1.67gr, 17mm, 6h.).
Provenance
Found Norfolk, UK.
Accompanied by copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report, with reference no. NMS-2BD0FD.
Footnotes
This token is a remnant of an old tradition held in England during the Middle Ages. From St. Nicholas' day on December 6 to Childermass on December 28, a choir boy from certain churches and abbeys was selected to be a 'boy Bishop' for the period. During this time the child wore bishop's robes, preached sermons and headed a procession. These tokens are assumed to be part of this ceremony and may have been used by the boy to exchange for sweetmeats or alms.
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LOT 4227
England. Suffolk, Bury St Edmunds 'Boy Bishop' PB Token.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
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