Beggar's badge

This beggar's badge is from the parish of Nigg in Aberdeenshire. It is made of lead and dates from 1773.

The front of the circular badge bears the date, 1773, 'No. 20', and the words 'P. Nigg D.C. Minr'. 'P. Nigg' stands for 'Parish of Nigg', while 'D.C. Minr' stands for 'David Cruden, Minister'. The badge has a pierced suspension loop on either side.

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:	000-100-002-199-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland H.KJA 56
Date:	1773
Material:
Dimensions:	66 mm L x 45 mm W
What:	Badge, beggar's
Subject:	Badges and insignia (NMAS Classification)
Who:
Where:	Scotland, Kincardineshire, Nigg
Event:
Description:	Beggar's badge from Nigg, 1773
References:	Brook, A.J.S. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquities of Scotland 21 (1886-7), pp 169-179
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