Record

Beggar's badge

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from the Parish of Weem, Perthshire

Postcard of Beggar's badge.
000-100-002-212-C
© National Museums Scotland

Beggar's badge

This beggar's badge is from the parish of Weem in Perthshire. It is made of lead and dates from the mid 18th century.

The obverse of the pentagonal badge has the letters 'WM' for Weem in a monogram within a rectangular border. The reverse has a number '5'. There is a single perforation near the top.

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: 000-100-002-212-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 83 A
Date: Mid 18th century
Material: Lead
Dimensions: 32 mm L x 21 mm W
What: Badge, beggar's
Subject: Badges and insignia (NMAS Classification)
Who:
Where: Scotland, Perthshire, Weem
Event:
Description: Lead beggar's badge, from Weem
References:
  • Brook, A.J.S. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquities of Scotland 21 (1886-7), pp 169-179 
Translations:
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