I have recently been gifted x3 "True Cross" Terracotta Pilgrim Tokens. There has been a previous post on this site about them. These are in VGC, and I have just noticed there is a 'X' above each arm of the Cross. I have read there are different types. Can anyone tell me which type my ones are pleas? Believed to have come from a hoard found in Turkey decades ago. They are Circa 630AD and were commissioned by Emperor Heraclius in 628 when he won back the Cross from the Persians. They are reported to have a small amount of True Cross Ash mixed in with the Clay.? Possibly a good selling point for the Pilgrims?
Regarding the types of these Cross tokens. On page 274 of Mitchiner's book, he establishes 4 sub-types, which he designated as types 'a', 'b', 'c', and 'd': a: Inscriptional letters (H N E I) in the Cross' 4 quadrants; no human figures. b: Three human figures around the Cross. c: Two small human figures at the foot of the Cross. (Approx. 15mm avg.) d: Two larger human figures at the foot of the Cross. (Approx. 18mm avg.) Note that Mitchiner cites "X X" on both type 'c' and type 'd': My one example is type 'd' because it has two human figures and has a diameter of 17.5 mm. The "X - X" is very faint, but in-hand they are more readily visible.
Interesting. Had you not told us they were terracotta, I wouldn't have guessed, from the pictures. I would've assumed they were bronze.
I had the exact same initial thought. Perhaps at some point they received an application of a protectant similar to RenWax. That would both deepen the coloration of the terracotta and add a sheen.
