Beggar's badge

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This beggar's badge was issued by the town council of the parish of Kirkwall in Orkney in 1674. It is made of lead.

The front of the circular badge has a fully-rigged ship. Beneath this is the number 28. The badge has four 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: 000-100-002-180-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.KJA 2
• Date: 1674
  
• Material: Lead
  Badge, beggar's
  
• Dimensions: 73 mm max D
  
• What: Badge, beggar's
  
• Subject: Badges and insignia (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: Kirkwall Town Council (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Kirkwall
  
• Event:
• Description: Beggar's badge of lead issued by Kirkwall Town Council in 1674
  
• References:
  • Proceedings of the Society of Antiquities of Scotland 21 (1886-7), pp 169-179 
• Translations:
• Related Records: