This small cast lead alloy token, measuring 16.5 mm in diameter, was discovered in Surrey and dates to the post medieval period, likely the 16th or 17th century. It is uniface, with a nine-rayed star cast in high relief on one side.
Lead tokens were widely used in England from the late medieval period through to the 18th century. Their exact purpose often varied, some were used as tallies to record accounts or transactions, others acted as low-value substitutes for coinage in local markets, particularly in rural communities where small change was scarce. They were inexpensive to produce, and the designs, ranging from simple geometric shapes to initials or symbols, were often chosen by the maker.
The nine-rayed star on this example may have had personal or symbolic significance to its user, though the precise meaning is now lost. While humble in appearance, tokens like this are valuable glimpses into the everyday economy and lives of ordinary people. They remind us that not all history is written in silver and gold, sometimes it is found in modest pieces of lead that once passed through countless hands in the fields and villages of Surrey.
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