Charms, halfpennies, from reign of Queen Victoria, and nail (piece)

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These two halfpennies from reign of Queen Victoria, together with part of an iron nail, are from the Isle Maree in Loch Maree in Ross and Cromarty. They had been hammered into the trunk of a dying tree on the island, for superstitious reasons - in this case in order to obtain a cure for 'madness'.

One of the halfpennies is dated 1862, the other 1875. The coins have been bent by being hammered into the tree, which was dying because of the metal that had already been forced into it.

The leaving of tokens or votive coins in or by a well associated with a saint, in this case the Celtic church missionary saint, St Maelrubha, was, and still is, a common practice.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-234-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.NO 69
• Date: 19th century
  
• Material: Metal
  Metal
  Coin
  Coin
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Coin
  Coin
  
• Subject: Jewellery: charms, amulets (NMAS Classification)
  Jewellery: charms, amulets (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Loch Maree, Isle Maree
  Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Loch Maree, Isle Maree
  
• Event:
• Description: Queen Victoria halfpenny, dated 1862, which, for superstitious motives, had been hammered into the trunk of a tree growing on Isle Maree, Loch Maree, Ross-shire
  Queen Victoria halfpenny, dated 1875, which, for superstitious motives, had been hammered into the trunk of a tree growing on Isle Maree, Loch Maree, Ross-shire
  
• References:
  • McPherson, J. M., Primitive Beliefs in the North East of Scotland. pp 55-75 
  • Mitchell, Arthur, 'On Various Superstitions in the North-west Highlands and Islands of Scotland, especially in relation to Lunacy', in Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 4 (1860-2), pp 251-70 
• Translations:
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