Beggar's badge

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This beggar's badge from the parish of Dun in Angus dates from 1714. It is made of lead.

The front of the pentagonal badge has the words 'Poor of Dun' and the date, 1714. There is a perforation at the top. The reverse has the letters I.K. (for Iacobus Ker [James Ker]), the minister of Dun during the first half of the 18th century.

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: 000-100-002-208-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.KJA 76
• Date: 1714
  
• Material: Lead. Inscription: POOR OF DUN / On reverse side: I x K
  Badge, beggar's
  
• Dimensions: 22 mm L x 36 mm W
  
• What: Badge, beggar's
  
• Subject: Badges and insignia (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: Parish of Dun (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Angus, Dun
  
• Event:
• Description: Pentagonal beggar's badge of lead of the parish of Dun, dated 1714
  
• References:
  • Brook, A.J.S. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquities of Scotland 21 (1886-7), pp 169-179 
• Translations:
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