Wirral's Hidden History Revealed
Billon trachea coin
Finds From Wirral – Billon trachea coin This is another very unusual find for our area. It is a Billon trachea coin of the Byzantine Empire dating to AD 1204-61. PAS have speculated that this may be a modern loss but a small collection of Byzantine coins were discovered at Meols so it may well have a story to tell. The reverse…
Middle Eastern Coin
Finds From Wirral – Middle Eastern Coin A second earlier Middle Eastern coin in our collection is this very rare and unusual silver coin. It is a Sasanian drachm of Khusrau II who was the king of Iran from AD 590-628. This coin dates from AD 615 -618 and was minted at Shiraz in Iran. This coin is designated as of Regional…
Islamic Dirham
Finds From Wirral – Islamic Dirham This stunning piece is an Islamic Dirham. It is in excellent condition considering it dates from AD 775-776 and it was minted in Madīnat-al-Salām which is now known as Baghdad. Middle Eastern Silver was coveted by Vikings who traded across that area and Durham’s have often been found in hoards across England. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/102947
Pin Head
Finds From Wirral – Pin Head This is the tiny but wonderfully made head of a pin head dated from AD 700-900. It is 14 sided and the stem is broken. This is a third piece that is designated as of County/local importance https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1158360
Annular Brooch
Finds from Wirral – Annular Brooch This is a section of just less than a quarter of a copper alloy flat annular brooch dated to AD 410-570. The two lines at the right is where the pin would have sat and you can see traces of a basic zig zag decoration. This like the previous piece is unusual from Wirral and most…
Small Long Brooch
Finds from Wirral – Small Long Brooch This is a “small long” brooch dating from AD 450-550. It is broken and would have been longer at the bottom in this photograph. There are still traces of the iron pin on the rear. This is an unusual find in our part of the world as these brooches are normally found in the South…
Strap End
Finds From Wirral – Strap End A third strap end. This one is decorated with an enamel in what is known as a Trewhiddle style. The rivet end has a surviving rivet and a hole where the second missing rivet has disappeared Dated AD750-950 https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1144233
Strap End
Finds From Wirral – Strap End This is a second strap end. You can see that this one shows decoration and you can see the split and traces of the rivet holes on the right side. The left side is rounded and and is zoomorphic which means it is animal head shaped. Again dated AD 750-950. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1116314
Copper Alloy Harness Fitting
Finds From Wirral – Copper Alloy Harness Fitting A Copper Alloy harness fitting for mounting on a leather strap dating from AD 43-200. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1052561
Early Medieval finds
Finds From Wirral Early Medieval are finds dated AD410 at the end of the Roman era to AD 1066. They are rare finds but we know that many finds were made at Meols on Wirral dating from this period. The PAS database only has 21 finds listed from Wirral found and recorded by amateurs from this period and Wirral Archaeology CIC have…
Pennanular brooch
Finds From Wirral – Pennanular brooch A copper alloy Pennanular brooch dating 100 BC – AD 500. This type of brooch dates from the Iron Age through and past the Roman period.
Roman Bracelet
Finds From Wirral – Roman Bracelet The end of a Roman Bracelet dated AD43-410. You can just see the trace of some decoration in this tapered copper alloy unit. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1202006
Pair of lead weights
Finds From Wirral – Pair of lead weights This is a pair of lead weights. The one on the left has a distinctive shape and has a trace of a steel rod through the centre. This would originally had a hook but this has corroded away. Dated AD43-410. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1099363 The one on the right is more spherical in shape and has been dated…
Roman Finger Ring
Finds from Wirral – Roman Finger Ring Another Roman finger ring. This one dates from AD 100-200 and isn’t complete and is pitted. No where near in as good condition as the one above. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1093782
Roman Coin
Finds From Wirral – Roman Coin Unlike the beautifully preserved Roman coins pictured on other posrts this is much more like the majority that are recovered. There is little detail and as such can only be dated as being from later in the Roman occupation AD 260-410 https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1149497