A HISTORY OF NORFOLK 



Empire as their model. The mount has been slightly damaged and some 

 of the small slices of garnet with which the cells were originally filled 

 are now missing. Gold foil was placed below the stones to add to their 

 lustre, and the design seems to represent a laurel wreath, which actually 

 occurs on the reverse of the coin though somewhat obliterated on this 

 particular specimen. The disc was suspended by a barrel-shaped loop, 

 no doubt to a chain or necklace, and the extremities of the loop are much 

 worn by continual use. The workmanship is surpassed by many examples 

 of similar work from Kent, but the somewhat free and realistic treatment 

 of the border contrasts with the usual geometrical designs and has yet to 

 find a parallel. Caution is therefore necessary in drawing conclusions 

 from this object, but although found quite alone it may for our present 

 purpose be treated in connection with another relic now to be described. 

 About the year 1850 a similar jewel was detected in a pit at 

 Wilton near Methwold by some boys who were digging gravel, but 

 nothing else appears to have been discovered at the same time or place.' 

 The jewel was soon afterwards purchased by a gentleman at Lakenheath, 

 and was acquired in 1859 for the British Museum where it is now 

 exhibited side by side with the Bacton specimen. The cross is of gold 

 and in the centre is a genuine gold coin of Heraclius I. (613—641) 

 with a double beaded border which occurs on coins of later emperors 

 (as Leo V. in the ninth century) but is not known on any of this period. 

 A closer examination of the object shows that the gold border is of 

 another colour and has been added by the goldsmith who originally 

 mounted the coin. The obverse (fig. 7b) of the coin is on the under 

 side of the pendant and bears the effigies of the emperor and his son 

 Heraclius Constantinus. The reverse (fig. 7a) which forms the centre 

 of the jewel, displays a cross upon a flight of four steps, with the legend 

 VICTORIA AUGUSTORUM, an E which is probably a mint mark and the 

 mysterious boxx. Three limbs of the jewel and the part immediately 

 surrounding the coin in the centre are filled with pieces of garnet 

 disposed in a sort of mosaic pattern and backed by hatched goldfoil to 

 heighten the brilliancy. To the upper limb is affixed a barrel-shaped 

 bead of gold wire-work and the whole is evidently an ornament designed 

 for suspension from the neck. Unlike the Bacton specimen, the obverse 

 is here placed at the back of the pendant and preference given to the 

 reverse with its cross raised on four steps. This arrangement as well as 

 the form of the setting suggests that the original owner was a Christian, 

 but the goldsmith seems to have displayed more skill than understanding 

 in the production of this very creditable piece of work, for the cross on 

 the coin is upside down ; and however poor the die, it is hard to believe 

 that anyone familiar with the type would have blundered in this way. 

 The emperor Heraclius by whom the coin was issued was son of a 

 prefect of Africa of the same name and was born about 575. He de- 

 throned and caused the execution of the emperor Phocas in 610, and 

 after seizing on the vacant throne died in the year 641. His memory was 



^ Not folk Archctohg-j, vol. iii. p. 375. 

 342 



