Beggar's badge

Add to album

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

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-100-002-199-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.KJA 56
• Date: 1773
  
• Material: Badge, beggar's
  
• 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 
• Translations:
• Related Records: