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30.07.2021

Jetton

This copper alloy disk, dating from the late medieval period between 1480 and 1500, was discovered at the Evans Halshaw site, located on Hyde Street in Winchester, Hampshire, during archaeological excavations conducted by Wessex Archaeology in the early 2000s.

While this disk appears to be minted like a coin, it served a different purpose. It was used by a late medieval businessman as a counting tool on a blackboard. These disks, known as jettons, were commonly used in trade and accounting during this era. The earliest jettons used in England were produced within the country, but this particular jetton was imported from Nuremberg in the 15th century.

Jettons were often decorated with various designs, and this one features a depiction of a fleur-de-lis and a shield. Despite the Evans Halshaw site, now known as Silchester Place, being located within the vicinity of Hyde Abbey, these jettons were most likely utilized for trade by individuals residing outside the abbey's walls. Jettons offer valuable insights into the economic and commercial activities of the time, shedding light on how medieval businessmen conducted their financial affairs.

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