EUROPEAN CHRISTIAN PILGRIM’S BADGE, 14TH-15TH CENTURY AD

Circular, 5/8” diameter, with triple scroll “crutches” at the quarter points. Centered dome surrounded by 12 smaller, representing Christ and His disciples.  White metal, probably a tin-lead pewter alloy. Reverse plain with a central circle. These were produced in the Holy Land for pilgrims who wore them at home as prestige symbols. They were sold at shrines of saints where holy relics of the saints, sometimes, the whole corpus, were preserved. The symbols are specific to the life and achievements of the saint. Pilgrims (known upon their return as “palmers” and thus originating the surname Palmer) wore them strung as necklaces, on hats, or attached to the clothing. Fine preservation.