English: Fragment of a cast copper alloy purse bar (Ward-Perkins Class 2a) of late Medieval or early Post-Medieval date (1475 - 1550). The purse bar itself is mostly complete, but it is missing the suspension loop and a small section (which includes the terminal) of one arm and the terminal of the other. The two arms of the purse bar are sub-rectangular in both plan and cross section and would have had an expanded sub-rectangular terminal (knop) at either end. On the lower edge of each arm of the purse bar are two small semi-circular integrally cast loops, each with a single central hole (average diameter: 2mm). Each loop measures 9.8mm length, 4.5mm width, and is 1.5mm thick. Two loops on one arm are missing. These would have acted as suspension loops for a leather or cloth purse. Each arm thickens at the centre of the frame. In the centre of the bar (where the two arms meet) is an integrally cast sub-rectangular shield shaped lozenge with intregal hole. This hole enables the attachment of the suspension loop (missing) and enables the purse to rotate. The purse suspension loop would probably have been circular in plan with tapering sides. It would have been sub-rectangular (D shaped) in cross section. Its loop would have extended at the base into a small cylindrical knop which further extended into a tapered length of bar that passed through the vertical hole in the purse bar. The terminal of this bar would have been rounded and a small faceted copper alloy rivet would have been fixed to secure the loop.

Both sides of the bars arms are decorated as is the central shield shaped lozenge. This decoration is in the form of an inscription which has been inlayed with niello (a silver compound which is black in colour). It is likely that the rest of the bar was either silvered or tinned. Most of both of these applied surfaces have been lost. The inscription on one side is spread over both arms of the bar and reads: [AVE MAR]IA / GATIA PLE. The niello has been lost from the majority of the letters on the left hand side (I and A). There is also a misspelling of the word GRATIA (GACIA) and not enough room for the word PLENA, but this is not unusual with artefacts from this period. The inscription on this face has been separated by the central block / shield shaped lozenge which is also decorated with a niello inlayed 'double V'. The opposite side of the purse bar is similarly decorated with an inscription. This reads P DOMINV / S / TE[CVM]. The S is within a shield shaped cartouche on the central block. The full inscription can be translated as Hail Mary Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. On some artefacts this inscription can be seen in full: AVE MARIA GRATIA PLENA DOMINUS TECUM, BENEDICTA TU IN MULIERIBUS (Hail Mary Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee, Blessed art thou among women...)

The purse bar is a mid green colour with an uneven abraded polished patina which covers most surfaces. Both the arms have been distorted by movement in the ploughsoil. This has resulted in both arms being curved and also the loss of both terminals and the suspension loop. Also the purse bar has suffered from laminating corrosion in that several large areas of the polished patina have been lost. In areas where this abrasion is most significant a light green coloured powdery corrosion is present.

Similar purse bars have been discussed by Ward Perkins in the Museum of London Medieval Catalogue. He classifies this type as Type A2 which is distinguished from the other types by its lack of ornamental decoration, and the use of an inlayed religious or talismanic inscription. Ward Perkins suggests that this type is to the late medieval c.1490 (pp163-165).