Beggar's badge

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This beggar's badge is from the parish of Comrie in Perthshire. It is made of pewter and dates from 1757.

The front of the circular badge bears a double-headed eagle - the arms of Perth. Around the edge are the words 'Combrie Parish' and the date, 1757. There are two pierced suspension loops.

In medieval and early modern times, beggars were generally valued and respected for the news they carried and for their craftsmanship or their medical or musical skills. This only changed with industrialisation, when the numbers begging rapidly increased

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-002-189-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.KJA 28
• Date: 1757
  
• Material: Pewter. Inscription: Round edge: I { } M COMRIE PARISH 1757
  Badge, beggar's
  
• Dimensions: 62 mm L x 49 mm W
  
• What: Badge, beggar's
  
• Subject: Badges and insignia (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: Parish of Comrie, Comrie, Perthshire (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Perthshire, Comrie
  Scotland, Perthshire, Perth
  
• Event:
• Description: Circular beggar's badge of pewter of the parish of Comrie, Perthshire, with the double-headed eagle from the arms of Perth, 1757
  
• References:
  • Brook, A.J.S. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquities of Scotland 21 (1886-7), pp 169-179 
• Translations:
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